Jolene's Honky Tonk brings allure of Nashville to Cleveland
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Jolene's Honky Tonk. Photos: Courtesy of Amanda Harnocz
A stop at East 4th Street's latest hotspot gave me the same vibes of my recent trip to the Country Music Capital of the World.
Why it matters: Jolene's Honky Tonk brings the razzle-dazzle of Nashville to downtown and adds to Cleveland's growing infatuation with all things country.
The intrigue: Jolene's, which opened early this month, occupies the space previously home to Greenhouse Tavern, Indie and Gabriel's Southern Table.
- It is owned and operated by Hangry Brands, the hospitality group behind establishments like Geraci's Slice Shop, STEAK in Tremont and The Yard on 3rd in Willoughby.
State of play: Jolene's takes its name from Dolly Parton's most iconic song and has a massive mural of "Saint Dolly" in its main room.
The four-story venue resembles Nashville's Broadway strip on steroids with neon signs, tractors and truck beds as seats, acoustic guitar shotskis and beers served in cowboy boot glasses.
Above the street: Jolene's also has the only public rooftop on East 4th, making it the ultimate people-watching paradise.
- The rooftop bar has swings instead of bar stools, a faux axe throwing station and iced shot glasses that, once finished, can be thrown into a brass bell and shatter.
The big picture: Jolene's is the third country-themed nightspot to open in Cleveland in recent years along with I Hate Cowboys and Welcome to the Farm, located next to each other in the Flats.
- Expect downtown to be in full-blown country mode later this summer when Morgan Wallen performs back-to-back nights at Huntington Bank Field on Aug. 15 and 16.
The bottom line: The only thing missing are buses hauling bachelorette parties up and down the streets of Cleveland.
- It may just be a matter of time.