sneak peak of the new corner alley at uptown
Fun and high style collide at the Corner Alley's second location at 11409 Euclid Avenue in Uptown, from the giant colorful lattice of bowling balls suspended above the main bar to the mural giving a visual depiction of Northeast Ohio's population that hangs on the opposite wall. But the strikes, spares and gutter balls aren't ready to roll just yet.
Slated for a December 3rd grand opening and a soft opening on November 29th, the site is still thrumming with the buzz of drills and footfalls of workers as they rush to finish the nearly 23,000 square feet of this stunning new entertainment venue, which seats up to 500 and will employ approximately 100. Construction started in spring 2013. MRN Hospitality Group, which owns the business, has invested $5.5 million to see it come to fruition.
Designed by Dimit Architects, the first floor clocks in at approximately 12,000 square feet with 11 lanes. The second floor has six lanes, which Corner Alley sales and marketing director Mary Lessick classifies as "boutique." Downstairs bowling is $50 per hour for up to six bowlers. The boutique lanes go for $60 per hour. In either case, shoe rental is included. Both levels feature a bar as well as numerous seating and dining areas, all of which are available for private parties.
Rental opportunities for personal or professional gatherings abound in nooks such as the Catwalk Lounge ($150 an hour) and the Mezzano ($75 an hour). Four boutique lanes and adjacent seating – AKA the Uptown Lounge -- runs $300 an hour. The entire facility can be had for $1,500 an hour. Staff can accommodate most groups. Food and beverages are not included in hourly pricing.
For tighter budgets, a "Friends and Family Fun Pack" is available for limited hours and includes two hours of bowling, two pizzas, sodas and shoe rental for up to six people. Lessick hopes to add other promotional events such as College I.D. Night in the future.
Until then, affordable drinks include happy hour pricing ($2 for PBR Tall Boys, $5 mini-margaritas), but lead bartender Jason Rutushin also promises delights such as house sangria, vodka infused in-house in oak barrels full up with peppers, olives and pickles for a custom Corner Alley Bloody Mary, and a host of handcrafted cocktails.
"Everything is made from scratch," adds culinary director Todd DiCillo of the kitchen's offerings. "Everything is slow roasted and hand pulled." He sources his ingredients locally whenever possible, and then whips them into dishes such as baked polenta points with roasted peppers and sausages (app, $10) and braised osso bucco ragout with rigatoni and pork shank (entrée, $17). Pizzas and sandwiches go for $10 to $12. The menu also features salads, sides, deserts and kids' plates.
Other amenities will include air hockey, a pool table, modern and vintage video games (Pac-Man, Asteroids), tabletop shuffleboard, a pinball machine and 37 televisions. Picnic table seating and two outdoor fire pits round out the spacious Euclid Avenue patio, where guests are welcome to people watch while sipping wine or a bourbon and berries cocktail. Valet parking is available, but Lessick also recommends the nearby Ford Garage or the Uptown North Station Pay Station Lot, which is directly behind the venue.
MRN Ltd., owned by the Maron family, is the developer and lead contractor on the entire mixed-use complex at the corner of Euclid Avenue and Ford Drive, which houses the likes of Cleveland Yoga, Constantino's Market and Cleveland Institute of Art students, although the dorms above will be shielded from the din of Corner Alley with soundproof building materials.
The area has undergone significant transformation over the years.
"This was called 'Hessler beach' right here," recalls MRN Hospitality Group's food, beverage and events director, Christine Connell, "with all the old hippies laying around without their tops on. The Tudor Arms was Job Corps, and it was really in bad shape." Connell moved from Manhattan to University Circle in 1992 and has worked with MRN since 1997.
Alternative dress codes of yesteryear notwithstanding, Chef DiCillo sums up the energy of the place.
"We just want people to be able to have a nice wine, have a nice entrée, and then look up and see a group of kids bowling. I think that's really fun."
