In a move that surprised many, the nightlife landscape at Flats East Bank has shifted dramatically: both Inferno and Rum Runners have abruptly closed their doors.
📉 What Happened
The closures were announced by the establishments’ parent company, Sly Restaurant Group — a hospitality group that also runs venues like Velvet Tango Room and Goma. According to their statement, “economic pressures currently affecting the hospitality and nightlife industry” made it unsustainable to continue operations at the current time.
The timeline:
- Inferno — originally launched in 2017 as a pizza-focused concept named “Dante’s Inferno,” it later pivoted into a club atmosphere with DJs and late-night dancing.
- Rum Runners — a revival of a ’80s–’90s Flats-area icon — had opened more recently in 2022, aiming to bring nostalgia along with a fresh nightlife vibe.
Despite their differing origins, both venues came to share an unfortunate fate. Management said they exhausted multiple options before concluding that staying open “under current market conditions has proven unsustainable.”
💔 What It Means for The Flats & Cleveland Nightlife
For many, Inferno and Rum Runners were more than just bars — they were vibrant hubs of nightlife that contributed to The Flats’ identity. Their sudden disappearance raises concerns about the stability of similar venues in the area: whether economic downturns, changing social habits, or rising operational costs are reshaping downtown’s after-dark culture.
On the community message board of Reddit, reactions ranged from nostalgia to pessimism. One user reflected:
“The new buildings have already been foreclosed on… Not saying the flats are dead but they definitely aren’t thriving.”
Others pointed out that club culture might be fading — calling out a shift in what people want from a night out.
If the closures signal a broader trend, we might be witnessing a turning point for Cleveland’s nightlife — from rapid, high-energy club culture to something more measured, sustainable, and perhaps different.
🙏 A Fond Farewell
To all who danced, drank, and celebrated at Inferno and Rum Runners — here’s to the memories. Loud music, packed dance floors, late-night laughs, and spontaneous nights out: these venues held a place in many lives.
As we say goodbye to these chapters, one can only hope that whatever comes next brings resilience, new energy, and spaces that match the changing tastes of Cleveland’s night owls.
