Mac Rating: 5.00 | Votes: 1 | Date: 10/07/2026 04:03:00

The building at 2621 Vine Street in Cincinnati's Corryville neighbourhood near the University of Cincinnati first opened in 1890 as the Nordland Plaza Nickelodeon, a vaudeville theatre that entertained audiences until 1955. After a stint as a German film house and a restaurant called The Inner Circle, Al Porkolab transformed the space into Bogart's Cafe Americain in 1975 -- an ode to Humphrey Bogart and the film Casablanca -- with an initial capacity of just 250 and a full restaurant kitchen. Porkolab quickly realised the restaurant was a mistake and pivoted to a dedicated music venue. The stage was relocated, the kitchen removed, and capacity grew to 450 before a major structural renovation in 1982 restored the original vaudeville-era stage and expanded the room to its current 1,500-person capacity across a standing-room pit and a balcony that opens for larger shows. The venue reopened on 7 November 1982 and has been a constant on the national touring circuit ever since. Nederlander Concerts took over management in 1997, and SFX (now Live Nation) acquired the operation in 1999. Despite corporate ownership, Bogart's has retained its gritty, intimate feel -- five bars including a dedicated Cincy Craft Beer Bar, three seating levels, and a 5,000-square-foot floor that puts fans within arm's reach of the stage. The venue is available for private events accommodating 25 to 1,500 guests, with full-service event production, state-of-the-art lighting and sound, and custom catering and mixology. Bogart's celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025 with fans sharing memories of secret Prince shows, early performances by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Living Colour, and headliners ranging from Motorhead and B.B. King to Bo Diddley and Tech N9ne. Tickets are available through bogarts.com and Ticketmaster. The venue sits on Short Vine, a strip of bars and restaurants adjacent to the University of Cincinnati campus.