🎭 The Masonic Temple Goes Dark

Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop: Somewhere between the Browns rebuild and the eternal I-90 construction, we quietly became the guardians of fried fish history 🍟🐟

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John Petkovic & Jude Perez

For decades, generations made the pilgrimage to Arthur Treacher’s – especially during Lent.

At its peak, the beloved seafood spot was the dominant player in fast-food America with 826 locations.

They came for the fish and chips, but also the tradition and experience.

Then came the fast-food wars of the 1970s, and the Columbus-born Fish & Chippy all but disappeared.

Except in Northeast Ohio – where it thrives with the only three surviving locations in the country, in Garfield Heights, Cleveland Heights and Cuyahoga Falls.

“We used to have a line of people waiting for us to open on Ash Wednesday,” says former owner Ben Vittoria, who sold the Garfield Heights and Cuyahoga Falls locations to George Simon.

Last year, Simon opened a to-go location in Cleveland Heights in a space that once housed a Treacher’s.

They’re alive and well and have even become a tourist destination for retro-hounds looking for a taste of the old recipe and a slice of nostalgia.

Few fast-food chains were as colorful.

English-born, Cleveland-raised actor Bob Hope crafted the image of the company and recruited an English actor -- yes, named Arthur Treacher – to be its face.

Openings were celebrated with a double-decker bus parked outside.

Those were different times... But we still have what no one else does: Treacher’s

Cleveland reputation as a “refuge city” where you can buy a home, rent and live without going broke has made its housing market one of the strongest in the country.

But the reputation and the strength it has attracted are making it less affordable.

A new report finds that rents climbed 6.9% year-over-year in 2025, with the average effective rent reaching about $1,406.

A reason for the rise: Over the last five years, the metro area added only 6.990 rental units – which hasn’t kept up with demand.

Supply demand issues have also played a role in home prices, which rose 11% year over year -- bucking national trends that show prices declining over the last two years and down 1.4% in the last three months alone.

Despite the rise, Cleveland is still much more affordable than most of the metro areas in the country. But it’s catching up.

It was a mainstay of Cleveland cultural life for 100 years. And it looked like it would continue to play that role… until everything unraveled.

In September, the curtains closed on the Cleveland Masonic Temple. Concerts were cancelled; staffers were let go. No advance notice.

Now, TempleLive has put the hulking 1921 Romanesque revival-style complex up for sale.

No price is specified in the listing. The county tax appraisal values it at $712,000-719,000.

For years, it sat like an impenetrable fortress -- a reminder of Cleveland’s glory days; its inactivity, a sign of its decline.

That is, until 2017, when the Arkansas-based promoter bought it from the Scottish Rite Masons for $725,000.

TempleLive’s $8.6 million renovation brought it into the 21^st century while preserving its history. But plans to build a $60 million 19-story Dream Hotel were cancelled due to the pandemic.

So, what next for the architectural and acoustic jewel that was the home of the Cleveland Orchestra for 10 years, until 1931?

The listing states: “The property offers strong potential for continued entertainment use or redevelopment into luxury residential, hospitality or mixed-use space.”

No doubt. But borrowing rates and the economic landscape will require investors with deep pockets – not to mention a belief that it make such a hulk viable.

WEDNESDAY

Mike Polk’s Twisted Takes on Historic CLE Photos: The Cleveland comic and John Skrtic bring their irreverent show that examines Cleveland history to Music Box. 7 p.m. Info.

THURSDAY

Andy Woodhull: The Chicago comedy scene vet is a regular on late-night shows and notched 12 million views for his Dry Bar Comedy special. He hits Hilarities at 7 p.m. – the first of a five shows (two on Friday & Saturday). Info.

Mourning [A] BLKstar: The Cleveland outfit brings its amalgam of soul, jazz, funk, hip-hop and punk to the Beachland Ballroom. 8 p.m. Info.

👉 View Listing on Zillow

How many eateries boast a Hall of Fame? There’s one, for sure: Johnny Hot Dogs – which features a wall of old photos of ‘inducted’ patrons, friends and employees.

Someone start a Cleveland Legends HoF so we can induct Johnny’s.

It’s occupied stall A-1 of the West Side Market since 1912 – the year the market opened. And little has changed since Mary Trisco opened its doors 114 years ago.

Joe Pickering, a mainstay behind the counter for years, still uses a flat-top grill to cook the dogs – which come with spicy chili, diced raw onions, and bright yellow mustard.

Yes, it also boasts sandwiches and breakfast offerings.

But Johnny’s is a legend because it looks like one – a cinematic place with personality and colorful characters that made Cleveland famous.

(Check out out Instagram and Facebook pages for a profile of Johnny Hot Dog.)

In 1967, Cleveland Browns great Jim Brown organized the Cleveland Summit, which brought athletes together to support Muhammed Ali when he announced that he was refusing to serve in the U.S. military in Vietnam on religious grounds.

Ooh and don’t forget! Tag @The216Scoop on Facebook & @scoopcle on Instagram to get your photos in the Scoop!

46 °F 🌡️ 34 °F | ⛅ (Mostly Sunny / Warmer) | 10% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 14 mph (≈ 12 knots)

52 °F 🌡️ 38 °F | 🌧️ (Rain / Breezy & Mild) | 80% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 18 mph (≈ 16 knots)

40 °F 🌡️ 26 °F | 🌧️➡️🌨️ (Rain to Snow / Falling Temps) | 60% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 20 mph (≈ 17 knots)

_{Please note that weather conditions can change rapidly. For the most up-to-date information, consider checking a reliable local weather service.}

Away vs. Bucks, 8:00 PM February 25 (Wednesday)

Away vs. Pistons, 7:00 PM February 27 (Friday)

Away vs. Nets, 3:30 PM March 1 (Sunday)

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