It’s no secret that Cleveland sports fans are a die-hard, all weather devoted group. And what goes better with Cleveland sports than a traditional tailgate?

That’s why the team behind Tailgate Sports Bar & Grill chose to open its new establishment last month in the heart of the Cleveland State University campus with the motto #WeTailgateAllYear.

The ownership team of Andre Scott, Chris Thomas, and Jeremiah Burks, who opened Haunted House Restaurant in Cleveland Heights in 2021 with Darnell "SuperChef" Ferguson, along with owners Aja Mattox, Chantel Coronel, and Joe Damato, held the grand opening of Tailgate Sports Bar & Gill on Thursday, March 23 at 1938 Euclid Ave. in the former Burgers 2 Beer space.

“It’s a conceptual sports bar,” says Scott, who is also assistant varsity basketball coach at Cleveland Heights High School and works in sports management for NBA players. “It plays a little bit of homage to Cleveland State University, so we wanted to cater to the students and faculty of Cleveland State.”

The restaurant also pays homage to all the major Cleveland teams—the Browns, the Guardians, the Cavs, and the Monsters. “Come for the food and watch your favorite Cleveland sports team,” Scott says. “They each have their own wall.”

The food—centered around an ideal tailgate feast—includes everything from salads and appetizers to pizza, sandwiches, entrees and Tailgate’s signature one-pound burgers. “They’re hefty,” Scott says of the burgers. “They’ll fill you up.” The establishment even has a vegan menu.

Chubb's BurgerThe menu also pays homage to Cleveland sports greats—like Kenny’s Pick pizza; Bernie’s Bloomin’ Onion; [Mark] Price’s pickles; [Nick] Chubb’s Burger; Campy’s Vegan Burger; and the K Love Melt.

Scott’s favorite? The J.R. Bremer, named after former NBA point guard and current Cleveland Heights High School basketball coach,—a grilled salmon wrap with cheese and chipotle ranch. “It’s delicious,” he says.

Scott hired Detroit-based muralist Mars to hand draw murals of the iconic Free Stamp sculpture and the Tailgate logo in the restaurant.

Scott says the CSU students are starting to discover Tailgate Bar & Grille as they return from spring break. “It’s a unique space, and the parking is not great,” he admits. “We’re still getting the word out.”

Meanwhile, he says Haunted House continues to draw scary movie fans locally and from all over the country. “The concept is still working, and people come from out of town,” he says. “The lines are still out the door and down South Taylor on Saturdays and Sundays.”