A public record filed this week provided the first indication that the space which housed the Tick Tock Tavern in Cleveland’s Edgewater neighborhood has a new lease on life. The owner of Downtown Cleveland’s Sausalito on Ninth was notified by the city that his plan to start renovating the recently closed, eight-decade-old tavern was approved.
A source who spoke on the condition of anonymity confirmed to NEOtrans that Sausalito On Ninth owner Saravanan Chandrababu will take over the vacated space of the Tick Tock Tavern that closed in December. The 4,400-square-foot restaurant, bar and party room space is located on the ground floor of a mixed-use building at 11526 Clifton Blvd.
The source did not provide information on what Chandrababu’s has in mind for the spot. No one at CBRE which had the listing for lease responded either.
Chandrababu responded to NEOtrans via e-mail, saying that he will make an announcement soon regarding his plans for the restaurant space, complete with renderings. “I want to announce big with all the details.”
On March 4, Cleveland Building Department Chief Tom Vanover issued a letter to Chandrababu notifying him that his interior, non-structural demolition plans submitted the day before were approved.
“A city-registered contractor may now purchase the permit at Cleveland City Hall, Room 505,” Vanover wrote. “This approval is invalid if work has not commenced within twelve months of the above approval date.”
The permit would allow for the removal of the non-structural elements from the referenced first-floor space only. There was no dollar amount associated with the proposed work. Nor was any information provided as yet regarding the build-out plans for the new establishment.
Chandrababu has been in expansion mode. In 2023, he opened Sausalito Kirtland at 9270 Chillicothe Road — an American-fusion restaurant with a banquet facility. In fact, Sausalito does a big business in catering — something that the Clifton location can offer with its large space.
The Kirtland establishment expanded from Sausalito On Ninth, 1360 E. 9th St., in Downtown Cleveland. Featuring chef-inspired, locally sourced cuisine, the Downtown restaurant opened in 2018 on the ground floor of the 15-story IMG Building.
The restaurant’s roots go back more than three decades when it was begun by noted restaurateur Gary Lucarelli who opened Sweetwater’s Cafe on Euclid Avenue. It moved to the Galleria at Erieview and changed its name to Sweetwater’s Cafe Sausalito.
“Now, under the new leadership of Indian immigrant Saravanan ‘Babu’ Chandrababu, a re-envisioned restaurant resides in a beautiful, contemporary glass-front location along bustling East 9th Street in Downtown Cleveland under the name, Sausalito on Ninth,” the restaurant’s Web site notes.
But the IMG Building’s ownership has been unsettled for six years. In January, creditors took possession of the 60-year-old building comprised mostly of offices from owner 1360 East Ninth CLE LLC after a long, bitter foreclosure case.
A securitized loan incorporated as a limited liability corporation was awarded a credit bid of $6.63 million in a sheriff’s sale last year, Ohio Supreme Court and Cuyahoga County records show.
On Clifton, the landlord of the two-story, 100-year-old building that held the former Tick Tock Tavern since 1937 is Clifton Medical LLC. It, in turn, is owned by James Hansen of Oakland, CA. He has owned the property since 2016, according to county property records.
NEOtrans broke the story of the Tick Tock Tavern closing. The closure came as its owner of 31 years, John Tripodis, decided to retire rather than fight the city’s attempts to deny a renewal of his liquor license.
His ownership followed his employment there since 1975, working for his cousin Gus Katsaros who bought the establishment in 1972. After NEOtrans broke the story, Tripodis said he found a newspaper article from 1977 which reported that the Tick Tock Tavern was celebrating its 40th anniversary.
RELATED: Tick Tock Tavern on Clifton Boulevard Is Closing After More Than 75 Years
Following two separate, high-profile shootings, one in August 2021 and a fatal shooting in February 2023, both involving tavern customers, plus noise and other complaints, city officials fought Tripodis’ renewal of his liquor license.
“I’m getting railroaded by the city,” Tripodis said. “They made me responsible for what people do after they leave here. I hired security but I can have all the security I want and I can’t stop that. I thought that’s why we have police. But I saw the writing on the wall and decided now is a good time to retire.”
For more updates about Cleveland, sign up for our Cleveland Magazine Daily newsletter, delivered to your inbox six times a week.
Cleveland Magazine is also available in print, publishing 12 times a year with immersive features, helpful guides and beautiful photography and design.
