LBM Lakewood Is Closing: Celebrate Cleveland’s Viking Bar Before It’s Gone

Iconic Lakewood cocktail spot LBM is closing for good this October after nine spirited years. Here’s why it matters—and how to toast the end in style.

Lakewood’s most legendary cocktail haunt, LBM, is closing its doors for good on October 10—right on its 9th anniversary. Yes, the Viking-themed watering hole that set the bar for what a Cleveland neighborhood joint could be is officially setting sail. Let's raise a glass (or horn) to the legacy of LBM, and find out why you can’t miss these final weeks.

What Made LBM Legendary

Since 2015, LBM was the North Coast’s answer to Norse mythology—a place where inventive cocktails, tattooed bartenders, and axe decor set the scene for unforgettable nights. The bar built its rep on:

A wildly creative, always-rotating drinks menu
Offbeat but welcoming service, where everyone felt like a regular
Late-night eats just as thoughtful as the booze
Killer playlists and an anti-pretension vibe

No velvet ropes, just good times and genuine hospitality.

Why the Axe Fell: The Closure’s Cause

It’s not about lack of love. Owner Eric Ho points to financial hurdles—especially spiking insurance costs tied to their lease renewal—as the chief culprit. Insurance premiums went up, coverage options shrank, and staying open just didn’t pencil out. Ho and team decided to give fans time to visit, rather than vanish overnight. Respect to that move: Clevelanders deserve a proper goodbye.

Say Goodbye (and Maybe Hello Again)

Here’s your window: LBM’s final night is October 10, 2024. Until then, it’s a non-stop farewell party. Expect:

Familiar faces and alumni bartenders behind the stick
Toasts, cheers, maybe a few tears—no shame here
All your favorite cocktails, mixed with a little nostalgia

Planning to relocate? Nope. The owners say LBM belongs right here, and rebranding isn’t in the cards (though whispers of a future concept are swirling).

What to Drink Before the Doors Close

LBM’s bar program is Cleveland cocktail canon. Order these while you still can:

House Old Fashioned: Bourbon-forward glory, hit with a Nordic twist
Seasonal Smashes: Always changing, always a hit
Riff cocktails: Ask the bartender for something weird and wonderful—trust them

And let’s not sleep on the food menu: the burger, the tots, the perfect late-night snack to soak it all up.

Where to Find LBM (Before It’s Gone)

LBM
12301 Madison Ave, Lakewood, OH
Open until October 10—hours may vary in these last weeks, so check socials for updates

If you’ve never been, now’s your chance. If you’re a regular, these last visits matter. Either way: don’t let this Cleveland classic vanish from your memories without a proper send-off.

Join the Farewell Tour

LBM set a standard for what a neighborhood bar could be: creative, authentic, and proudly weird—in the best possible way. Make time to stop in, raise a glass to nine bonkers, beautiful years, and thank the crew who made it all happen. Don’t cheers too hard, though—the LBM crew says their livers are as mid-30s as the rest of us.

You know what to do, Cleveland. Skål!