Cleveland’s Red Chimney Plans Move From Slavic Village to Parma Site After 2025 Fire Damage

A longtime Fleet Avenue diner retools its future after months of uncertainty

Red Chimney, a longtime neighborhood restaurant on Fleet Avenue in Cleveland’s Slavic Village, is preparing to relocate to Parma following a 2025 fire that forced the business to shut down. The restaurant has remained closed since the incident, and the family behind the operation has now shifted from rebuilding plans in Slavic Village to pursuing a new site in the suburbs.

The fire occurred on August 5, 2025, when crews responded to a blaze in an apartment above the restaurant. Fire officials said no one was injured, but the building sustained significant damage. While the flames were largely contained to the apartment, water and smoke impacts affected the restaurant below, contributing to an estimated loss of roughly $300,000 and leaving the business unable to operate.

Why the restaurant is leaving Slavic Village—at least for now

In the immediate aftermath of the fire, the owners publicly expressed intentions to return to Fleet Avenue. Over time, however, the costs and timelines associated with restoring the Slavic Village property grew. As those estimates increased and months passed without a clear reopening date, the family began exploring alternatives that could return the restaurant to service sooner.

The relocation plan centers on a property at 8320 Snow Road in Parma, the longtime home of Pappou’s Family Restaurant. Pappou’s announced in 2024 that it would close after more than four decades in operation, with an effective closing date of May 12, 2024. That space is now being prepared for a new tenant, with Red Chimney identified as the prospective occupant. The restaurant’s representatives have indicated the arrangement is still being finalized.

What is known about the new Parma location

• The proposed address is 8320 Snow Road, Parma.

• The move would place Red Chimney into a former full-service family restaurant footprint.

• No opening date, staffing plan, or final business terms have been publicly confirmed.

Community impact and the business’s next steps

Red Chimney’s closure left employees without work and removed a familiar gathering place from Slavic Village. Local attention around the fire also intensified because the storefront had recently appeared on screen in the 2025 film “Superman,” drawing additional visitors to the neighborhood prior to the blaze.

The relocation effort marks a practical pivot: reopening in a new, ready-made site rather than waiting through an extended rebuild.

For Slavic Village customers, the move signals that any return to Fleet Avenue is unlikely in the near term. For Parma, it introduces the prospect of a well-known Cleveland diner brand reestablishing itself in a new community—pending completion of the deal and a confirmed timeline for reopening.