Closing Time

The official news statement: A long time downtown establishment has closed its doors after 14 years in Cleveland, Tennessee. The Catch Bar and Grill, owned by Michael Poore and Clay Walker, with Michael Poore as Executive Chef, specialized in fresh seafood and upscale catering. The restaurant, located at 233 Inman Street, announced its closure two weeks ago.

And those are the facts, summed up in one nice, short, precise paragraph. But I think there is much more to the story that needs to be told, the history, the memories, and the meals shared.

When my daughter Logan was 7, she accompanied me to a Christmas Tree Auction/Fundraiser at the Museum Center at Five Points. I am not sure if it was Logan or me that stumbled on Michael Poore first. He fell in love with a colbalt blue tree I had decorated for the event and he was determined to purchase it no matter the price, and I have to admit, it was stunning. And that is where our friendship began.

I have no idea how our paths had not crossed before then. I worked downtown and had (and still have) a real passion for downtown events, happenings, etc. I was involved in the Museum Center, MainStreet Cleveland and anything and everything to do with downtown.

Michael and his partner, Clay, had purchased a building in the new and upcoming area of Five Points. They had remodeled the upstairs into a fabulous loft and were living there while working on the remodel of the downstairs- what would become affectionately known as The Catch. I met Michael right after the doors of the restaurant opened.

It started out for me as a nice, quick place to grab a glass of wine with friends. When Logan was young she took dance lessons two blocks from The Catch, and you guessed it, it was the perfect place to sit with my friends for an hour or so until dance classes were over.

And it soon turned out to be a safe haven for me, a comfort zone, it became like my second home. I’m feeling lonely- I head to The Catch. I’m feeling social- I head to The Catch. The first warm day of spring- I head to The Catch patio. The first cold day of fall- I head to The Catch for their fabulous gumbo.

So many friendships evolved at The Catch, casual friendships and life long friendships. So many nights I will never forget- birthday parties, wedding receptions, after parties, the Feasts of the Seven Fishes, wine dinners, wine tastings, memorial gatherings, Halloween parties and most recently my bonus son’s wedding dinner.

We have celebrated so many things inside those walls and I have been very emotional about the closing. But the feeling that rises to the top is gratefulness. Grateful for a couple that had a vision for downtown growth and revitalization. Grateful for a couple that a vision for a local, seafood restaurant in Cleveland, TN. Grateful for a couple that became not only my friends but a dear part of my chosen family.

The restaurant business is hard- tight margins, long hours, product availability issues. And let’s face it, I don’t think anyone has ever made a fortune with a local restaurant, it is a calling and a passion. And although I am sad to see The Catch close, I am so happy for my friends to enjoy their retirement after working so hard for so long.

There are specific moments at The Catch that will forever be etched in my memory:

-The day we named our wine drinking friend group, The FOKRs, because we couldn’t fit all our names on the sympathy card for the flowers we were sending to Kathy Rohsenbeger’s dad’s funeral. By the way, FOKRs stands for “Friends of Kathy Rohsenberger”.

-My first date with my husband, Jay Goza. He waited until they brought the menus to tell me he was allergic to shellfish.

-My first “ambush” by my daughter to go with her Uncle Michael and Clay to the Beyonce concert, front row, in Nashville. I was worried they would lose her, instead they lost Clay.

There is not enough ink in the barrel to record all the meals and vino consumed and the friends and relationships made at The Catch. I have always joked that surely I have earned a table with my name on it by now. There is one unwavering fact- things change and time marches on. As for me, I will cherish the memories and anxiously await what is next for 233 Inman Street.