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| - Updating this with a few more details from my last couple visits there a couple months back. First of all: I finally checked out the shop in the basement on a couple visits. If you're into vintage kitsch, old vintage t-shirts (especially with Cleveland themes) or possibly old records it's worth a visit. The non-t-shirt clothing selections are not great. The prices are a tad high, in some cases way high (like 25 bucks for a small tchotchke, 20 bucks for a vintage magazine you can find on eBay for less). The guy who usually mans the downstairs is very nice.
Second of all: I would consider giving this place another star if they simply would do like most other clubs I know and either post a time when bands would play (as in, "Band X at 8 pm, Band Y at 9 pm, Artist Z at 10:30 pm") or start shows at a consistent (late) time (like no earlier than 8:30 or 9 pm). In one case, there were about four bands on the bill at the Tavern, at least one local and a couple from out of town. I assumed the two out of town bands would headline since both of them had lengthy track records. For some reason, one of the out-of-town bands was put on at like 7:30 pm. That is WAY too early and while I fortunately was there to see it (just), several of my friends who didn't show up until a more reasonable 9 pm hour missed it. It wasn't because the band needed to play early and leave either as they hung around all night. Another time we showed up on a weekend night to see a show in the Tavern, got there about 11:30 thinking we'd see the last set, and found everybody already loading out. and just a few drunks left dancing to the juke. again, if the venue would just post the band start times or leave them in a voice message you could call, it would avoid a big waste of time and gas getting out there only to find you have missed whatever and it would make me more likely to go back.
Finally, as for the drinks sitch I recommend paying for each one as you consume it rather than trying to run a tab there.
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