The first time I visited Kellie in Cleveland when we were dating, we spent our first day together touring the City of Cleveland, which I’d never been to, and ended the day at a place called Hornblower’s Barge & Grill. It was a pretty cool restaurant and bar set up in an old barge docked on the shore of Lake Erie between the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Burke Lake Front Airport.
The first time I was there, we basically had lunch and several drinks while enjoying the lake front scenery, and we went back several times when I was in town. It wasn’t necessarily the best food in town, but it was definiately one of coolest locations in the city.
That’s why it was sad when Kellie read in this month’s Cleveland Magazine that Hornblower’s had closed. After a few Google searches, I found this:
For some feisty — quick witted retired attorneys, it’s the end of an era.
They call themselves the “POETS.”
For 50-years — every Friday — they’ve met for food, fun, and most importantly — friendship.
“I tell my doctor, any day but Friday, I tell everyone, any day but Friday because this is it, this is my whole life, said Bob Marquard.”
“We’ve had several people die over the years, in fact we have more dead poets than alive,” said POETS Donald Armour.
But this is their last Friday at Hornblower’s.
What’s called “the ship that never dies” is closing.
“I’ve been in the restaurant business for 46-years, it’s a great end to a career,” said owner, Tom Roehl.
Tom and his business partner say it’s time to retire.
They rescued this 1892 freighter from Michigan.
They rode it to Cleveland, gave it new life as a restaurant — and the rest is history, like much of the d?cor.
The century old name plates are from actual ships. They have so much historical value; the Great Lakes Historical Society is going to take care of them.
For employees — it’s tough to say goodbye, and for the poets …
“We do carry on, and we will carry on,” said Marquard.
Hornblower’s is up for sale.
It officially closes its doors on Sunday.
As for the poets — they’re searching for a new restaurant.
So far, at least, it seems like the barge stands empty. Which is sad in itself.
