Clazel

By Alex Aspacher


"Classic Entertainment"


With 50 beers on tap and a versatile atmosphere, owner Ammar Muffleh and the Clazel staff have transformed one of the most interesting places in Bowling Green. They took a historic, although perhaps outdated, theater and turned it into a great place to have a drink, enjoy a show, and more.

"It needed a lot of work, but the work that was done was done with a lot of care and respect for the original building," said Cat Critei, who tends the Clazel's large four-sided bar and oversees the drink menu.

The Clazel opened in 1926, making it Ohio's oldest single-screen-movie-theater. The building was designed by Jack Raney, who was an architect for BGSU for more than 20 years and is responsible for a handful of buildings on campus, including Shatzel, Hayes and University halls.

The theater changed hands several times in the last decade, and was even operated as a non-profit organization beginning in 2005. Members of the community objected to the renovation of the BG landmark when Muffleh purchased it in 2008 with a desire to transform the Clazel into a "multi-entertainment venue."

"The owner really stressed in keeping it the same 1920s feel, the same style, the same history," Critei said. "So when people walk in it's obviously evolved quite a bit, but it still has that feel. We tried to replicate a lot of '20s architecture and maintain most of [the building]."

The appearance of the Clazel is now stunning rather than outdated. Although films are no longer being shown at the old movie house, this bar provides many other entertaining events for its patrons.

The musical acts that perform at Clazel are the primary source of entertainment and, depending on the show, can draw some very diverse crowds, said Banan AlKilani, who is responsible for scheduling the performances.

"We do different genres [of concerts]," AlKilani said. "So we have certain shows that bring in college students, we have some shows that bring in the townies, and we have some shows that bring in people from outside of town. It's really a free for all for whoever wants to come here and enjoy it."

           

A concert by Corey Smith next month could push the Clazel's occupancy restrictions to the limit of more than 600 people, AlKilani said. People came from all over, from states like Pennsylvania, Indiana, Michigan, and even New York, for a blues show featuring John Lee Hooker Jr. 


"And they're coming back because they love the place and they love the music that we're bringing (in)."


"This is not just one demographic's venue, or place to go, it's really everybody's," AlKilani said. "The place is so big you can bring somebody here on a date, or have a business conversation or close deals. There's so many different things that can happen here, and that's the beauty of this place."

Learn more and view photos, events and the beer list at www.clazel.net