Shooters on the Water in Cleveland’s Flats to reopen after sale, rebrand, and $1 million renovation

A long-running riverfront venue prepares to return under a new business structure

Shooters on the Water, a longtime bar-and-restaurant anchored on the Flats West Bank, is set to reopen after a change in ownership and a major renovation of the property at 1148 Main Ave. The business, which operated for roughly 37 years, temporarily closed in fall 2024 and was sold in September 2024 following about a year of negotiations.

The reopening plan includes refreshed interior spaces and a new operating identity tied to “Shooters Yacht Club.” Public records and permitting details show a renovation budget listed at about $1 million, with work focused largely on the building’s interior, including repairs and upgrades to bathrooms, bars, flooring, drywall and insulation, along with repairs to damaged decking.

What is changing at the site

The venue occupies a two-level restaurant footprint of about 15,000 square feet within the larger Sugar Warehouse complex. Renovation work has involved opening up walls and addressing building-condition issues discovered during construction, including roof leaks and other maintenance challenges that contributed to schedule adjustments from earlier reopening targets.

• Interior renovation and modernization across multiple guest areas
• Repairs tied to water intrusion and building wear
• New exterior signage aimed at river traffic and road visibility

While the name “Shooters” is expected to remain part of the site’s identity, returning customers should expect substantial visual changes. The former operator has continued to visit the location during construction, reflecting a sale structured with payments extending over multiple years.

Ownership and branding details

The ownership transition has included updates in state business filings and trade name records associated with the Shooters brand. A limited liability company using the “Shooters Yacht Club” branding was incorporated in early 2024, and the trade name assignment for “Shooters on the Water” was later changed from the longtime owner to a new entity.

The investor group connected to the reopening includes musician and Cleveland native Machine Gun Kelly (MGK). The project represents a high-profile addition to the entertainment mix on the Cuyahoga riverfront and follows the pattern of celebrity-linked hospitality investments that rely on destination appeal and event-driven traffic.

Context: a venue rooted in the Flats’ nightlife history

Shooters originally opened in 1987, drawing customers with river views, dock access for boaters, and live entertainment programming that brought both emerging and well-known acts to the West Bank. The site’s popularity has historically been tied to the waterfront itself—a competitive advantage that helped Shooters outlast numerous nearby venues through changing economic cycles, shifting entertainment patterns, and staffing pressures that intensified after the pandemic.

The reopening plan centers on restoring the restaurant’s core draw: direct access to the riverfront experience, with updated indoor spaces designed for today’s operations.

A reopening was projected for late summer following construction, though timing remains dependent on the completion of remaining work and inspections.