CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It is the place where a young Green Day played for $100. Where Joan Jett and Michael J. Fox performed together for the 1987 film, “Light of Day.” Where Mr. Stress and Chrissie Hynde and Peter Laughner jammed. Where poets read and activists argued. Where foodies designed their own hot dogs and barflies guzzled beer by the pitcher.

The Euclid Tavern has been many things to many people. After all, a lot of things have happened between these walls since 1909.

Story and photos (unless noted) by John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

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John Petkovic/The Plain Dealer

What will happen here after Nov. 16 is anyone's guess. The legendary club and one of Cleveland’s oldest bars is closing.

“That’s going to be our last show,” says Happy Dog co-owner Sean Watterson. “We gave this a shot and had some great successes, but life was hard -- it's tough enough to do one club, let alone two. As we approached the date to renew our lease we made the decision not to.”

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For four years, Watterson and his Happy Dog associates ran the storied bar as the Happy Dog at the Euclid Tavern. When it opened in October 2014, the idea was bring in pinball players, bands, drinkers and fans of the Happy Dog’s eclectic hot dog menu.

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A 1986 photo of then-owners Paul Devito, left, and Bob Jost at Euclid Tavern, by Mitchael J. Zaremba, The Plain Dealer)

In other words, operate it as an East Side satellite of the Happy Dog while staying true to the spirit of the Euclid Tavern.

“We’ve had some great programming -- more than 750 different bands, poetry nights, conversations and dialogues on the future of East Cleveland and the city and its neighborhoods,” says Watterson. “We hoped that we’d draw the music crowds we’d get at our west side location and also make it a meeting place for people in the University Circle.”

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Mitchael J. Zaremba / The Plain Dealer

More than that, Watterson saw the Happy Dog as the caretaker of the historic bar, which he loved going to two decades ago.

Ah, but those were different times.

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Courtesy Derek Hess

Cleveland artist Derek Hess' booking calendar for the Euclid Tavern, circa 1992. The club was a happening touring destination for up-and-coming bands, like Green Day. The band's booking agent initially demanded $300 to play there... and ended up settling for $100.

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The Plain Dealer

Bill Miller and his "Mr. Stress" band were a mainstay at the Euclid Tavern -- 1,600 shows between 1978 and 1996.

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George Heinz, Plain Dealer Historical Photograph Collection

Pioneering Cleveland musician Peter Laughner co-founder of Rocket from the Tombs and Pere Ubu. He also played the Euclid Tavern in the 1970s as a member of Mr. Stress' Blues Band, a popular house band at the club for many years.

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Taft Entertainment Pictures, via Historic Images/Plain Dealer Historical Photograph Collection

Joan Jett and Michael J. Fox performed in the Euclid Tavern for a scene in the 1987 flick "Light of Day."

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This stretch of Euclid Avenue has changed drastically in just the last five years and, all too often, The Euc was the odd bar out. Its gritty vibes, old-school bar, rough brick walls, tin ceiling, even that old-style neon sign stand out from the rows of new construction and minimalist architecture.

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“The area changed pretty quickly with building going up rather than through organic growth,” says Watterson. “It’s still trying to figure out what the right mix is and the audience it’s trying to serve.”

The Uptown development has seen its share of turnover. In May, the sprawling 25,000-square-foot bowling bar Corner Alley closed.

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It followed the closings of high-profile bars-eateries such as Dynomite, Crop and Accent which found it difficult to attract an audience amid the fast-casual chain restaurants preferred by college students in the area.

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Another spot closed just as Uptown was taking off: Euclid Tavern.

The bar, you see, has had some rough spots this century – closing in 2001, then re-opening in 2008, then closing again in 2013.

The building went into foreclosure that same year and was sold to University Circle Inc., a development organization.

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John Petkovic/The Plain Dealer

“We bought the building to preserve the history of the place and brought the Happy Dog in to keep the soul of it alive,” says Chris Ronayne, president of University Circle Inc. “It’s sad that it didn’t work out, but the Happy Dog brought back some of the aspects of the old Euclid Tavern and helped elevate a brand that had been dormant for a number of years.” (Photo of a wall with years worth of graffiti.)

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UCI has no plans for a new tenant for the space, but plans to preserve that brand as well as the name.

“We’re open to ideas,” says Ronayne. “We’re thinking it could be a place that changes personality by the hour – coffee and then a restaurant and a late-night bar that has music.” (The pressed-tin ceiling at the Euclid Tavern.)

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John Petkovic/The Plain Dealer

The idea is to retain the Euclid Tavern milieu while remaining flexible and adapting to the neighborhood.

“The neighborhood is continually evolving and we’re hoping that we’ll see greater business with more residential density,” says Ronayne. “Right now, we have a population of international students that are very studious and don’t go out as much or have as much money, so you have to be mindful of pricing.”

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John Petkovic/The Plain Dealer

Figuring out the right combination was elusive for the Happy Dog at the Euclid Tavern.

“We were happy been a part of the historic space and bring The Euc back to life, but we might not be the right fit at the right time,” says Watterson. “The long-term picture of Uptown is a good one, but it lot to expect Uptown to instantly develop an identity or figure out what it is.”

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Mitchael J. Zaremba / The Plain Dealer

A 1986 of then-owners Paul Devito, left, and Bob Jost working behind the bar and chatting with customers at the Euclid Tavern,

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John Petkovic/The Plain Dealer

When it opened in October 2014, the idea was bring in pinball players, bands, drinkers and fans of the Happy Dog’s eclectic hot dog menu.

In other words, operate it as an East Side satellite of the Happy Dog while staying true to the spirit of the Euclid Tavern.

Don't Edit

John Petkovic/The Plain Dealer

This stretch of Euclid Avenue has changed drastically in just the last five years and, all too often, The Euc was the odd bar out. Its gritty vibes, old-school bar, rough brick walls, tin ceiling, even that old-style neon sign stand out from the rows of new construction and minimalist architecture.

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