Katz Club on Track for April Opening

In a little more than two months Cleveland Heights residents can try the latest business venture to hit the diner cars on Lee Road.

Katz Club, at 1975 Lee Road, will open in early or mid-April as a '50s style diner and event center, said Amy Viny, who will handle marketing and social media for the new eatery. Cleveland Heights resident Douglas Katz purchased the property there in November with the help of a $200,000 loan from the city.

"We're thrilled about what's going on," said Viny, who serves the same role for Katz's popular Fire Food & Drink on Shaker Square. "We've had positive interactions with the city and we're looking forward to it.

"Everything is going swimmingly well."

Viny said people should expect a high-end diner when they enter Katz Club. She said the owner plans on integrating as many local products as he can into the meals.

"The diner dishes will focus on classic diner food with fantastic ingredients," she said. "Tuna melts, burgers, fries."

But that's just one of the stainless steel diner cars. The other will host an assortment of events, like birthday parties, rehearsal dinners and a few after-hours events, Viny said.

The structure was last used in May 2012 when Favor Bistro ended operations.

Katz club will employ about 75 people between on-site operations and catering. Contractors are currently installing new countertops in the diner. In the spring, contractors will carry out a new landscaping plan for the parking lot, Viny said.

All the improvements will cost about $200,000 in an effort to restore the cars to the way they looked years ago when Big Fun owner Steve Presser first brought them to Lee.

"This is a new venture, and one we hope to have a lot of fun with," Viny said.