Lionheart Coffee to open Lionheart Reserve at former Playhouse Square Starbucks on Euclid Avenue downtown

A second downtown café is planned for an iconic corner under the Playhouse Square chandelier

Lionheart Coffee, a Cleveland coffee brand operated by Hangry Brands, is preparing to expand downtown with a new location in Playhouse Square. The café is set to take over the former Starbucks space at 1400 Euclid Ave., a prominent corner at Euclid Avenue and East 14th Street beneath the district’s well-known outdoor chandelier.

The new shop will operate under the name Lionheart Reserve and is expected to open later in 2026. It would become the brand’s second downtown outpost, joining Lionheart Coffee’s existing location at 530 Euclid Ave. in the 5th Street Arcades.

What Lionheart Reserve is expected to add

Plans for the new space include an expanded food program compared with Lionheart’s current downtown menu, alongside coffee and tea offerings. The “Reserve” branding is being used to signal a more elevated in-store experience tailored to the surrounding theater district’s daily flow of office workers, residents and performance crowds.

Playhouse Square leadership has publicly welcomed the addition of a local operator to the storefront, which has sat vacant since Starbucks closed.

• Location: 1400 Euclid Ave., at Euclid Avenue and East 14th Street

• Concept name: Lionheart Reserve

• Timing: Expected to open later in 2026

• Operator: Hangry Brands

A restoration-focused buildout is planned

Beyond the menu, Hangry Brands has described a renovation approach aimed at restoring architectural details in the space. The plan includes reopening the second floor and removing elements of earlier renovations that obscured original design features, with the goal of bringing back details such as ceiling lines, crown molding and other period elements.

Hangry Brands has said the project will focus on returning the interior to a more historically detailed design, including reopening the second level and revealing original architectural features.

How the project fits into the district’s broader retail mix

The Playhouse Square District has continued to add food-and-beverage destinations in and around its venues, including concepts in the nearby Bulkley Building such as The Brasserie and The Bulkley Bar. Lionheart Reserve would add another all-day option at a high-visibility corner that serves as a pedestrian gateway for theatergoers and downtown visitors.

For Lionheart, the Playhouse Square address represents a move from an arcade-based location to a marquee street-facing corner, positioning the brand to serve both regular downtown traffic and the district’s performance-driven peaks.