FWD (club)

FWD Dayclub + Nightclub

James Hype performing at FWD in 2025
Address	1176 Front Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113 Cleveland, Ohio, 44113 United States
Coordinates	41°30′00″N81°42′29″W / 41.49997°N 81.70810°W / 41.49997; -81.70810
Owner	Ethos Hospitality Group
Type	Dayclub and Nightclub
Opened	2015
Website
fwdnightclub.com

FWD Dayclub + Nightclub (pronounced "forward") is a seasonal outdoor nightclub and dayclub located in Cleveland, Ohio, within The Flats. The club was conceived in 2015 by Bobby Rutter and Michael Schwartz, and was first opened by Forward Hospitality Group, a company named from the club. The group sold FWD off in 2025 to Cleveland businessman Bobby George who owns and operates it under his company Ethos Hospitality Group. FWD has been nicknamed "the Ibiza of the Midwest", and according to Schwartz was inspired by nightclubs in Las Vegas. ^[1]

History

Bobby George (right), whose company Ethos Hospitality Group acquired FWD in 2025.

Cleveland's Flats has been the target of proposals for nightclubs including seasonal ones since 2011 by two property developers, the Wolstein Group and Fairmount Properties. FWD was proposed to be a seasonal entertainment venue designed to evoke Las Vegas or South Beach, situated on the Cuyahoga River. Initially, Rutter proposed cover charges of $10-$20 for most shows prior to opening. ^[1] In a 2025 interview with Sun Sentinel prior to opening another concept in Florida, Rutter compared FWD to "MTV gave me $5 million to build a nightclub that looks built in a shipping yard". ^[2] One of Forward Hospitality Group's partners is also former Barstool Sports podcast host Dante Deiana. ^{[3] [4]}

FWD first opened on Friday, July 31, 2015, with a grand opening the following Saturday. FWD during its opening also offered private memberships. ^[5]

FWD and its parent Forward Hospitality Group struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic, where in Ohio, governor Mike DeWine laid out distancing guidelines which Rutter expressed would be incompatible with many venues in the group. ^[6]

In 2025, FWD was sold by the Forward Hospitality Group to Cleveland businessman Bobby George and his company Ethos Hospitality Group; entities related to George and the Wolstein family also gained control over the land in The Flats. Ethos previously acquired part of The Flats away from the family of Cleveland real estate developer Scott Wolstein, acquiring the land under the Cleveland location of Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville in 2023. ^[7] George's acquisition of FWD came after state lawmakers rescinded funds relating to Ethos' proposed entertainment complex in the Flats, with legislators citing George's currently ongoing criminal charges in Cleveland Municipal Court which allege George committed rape and attempted murder in May 2024. ^{[8] [9]}

Design

FWD is located at the tail end of The Flats and right next to an active railway, using recycled 9.5-foot-tall shipping containers for its walls. The stage is covered by a roof which also holds the VIP area, and separately 12 cabanas are located across the club. With four bars, the venue spans 15,000 square feet in total. ^{[1] [10]} FWD also added a public pool inspired by Las Vegas dayclubs. ^[11]

Reception

In its annual awards, EDM.com awarded FWD for the best residency of 2023 with John Summit, ^[4] and again in 2025 with Timmy Trumpet. ^[12]

Notable performers

• Dvbbs ^[5]
• Kaskade ^[13]
• John Summit ^[4]
• Lil Jon ^[14]
• Machine Gun Kelly ^[15]
• Malaa ^[14]
• Meduza ^[14]
• Pauly D ^[16]
• Sean Kingston ^[14]
• Timmy Trumpet ^[14]

References

1. Michelle Jarboe, The Plain Dealer (July 22, 2014). "Plans for Flats East Bank seasonal club, called FWD, show shipping containers, open-air dance floor". cleveland. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
2. "Good Night John Boy boogies into South Florida with disco balls, 'dad beers' & Dirty Ashtray cocktails". Sun Sentinel. May 7, 2025. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
3. Bucholtz, Andrew (March 19, 2025). "Dave Portnoy announced 'Barstool Backstage' cancellation during stream of company underdog pick tournament". Awful Announcing. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
4. Burge, Will. "Dante's Nightclub FWD in Cleveland, Dubbed "The Ibiza Of The Midwest", Took Home Some Hardware At The EDM Awards Last Night". Barstool Sports . Retrieved September 12, 2025.
5. John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer (July 29, 2015). "First look: FWD club brings Vegas-style pool party to Cleveland Flats (photos)". cleveland. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
6. Maslowski, Alexa (May 15, 2020). "Bars, Night Clubs Face Challenges to Open Again". spectrumnews1.com. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
7. Jarboe, Michelle (October 20, 2023). "Bobby George reaches deal with Wolstein family for control of prime slice of the Flats East Bank". Crain's Cleveland Business. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
8. Trattner, Douglas. "Partners in Bobby George's Ethos Hospitality Group Buy FWD Day + Nightclub". Cleveland Scene. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
9. Haynes, Noelle; Thyret, Julia (March 26, 2025). "Grand jury to hear case of TownHall owner Bobby George". Cleveland 19 News. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
10. FWD. "About". FWD Nightclub. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
11. Trattner, Douglas. "Vegas-Style Pool Added to Flats-Based Club FWD". Cleveland Scene. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
12. "Martin Garrix, FISHER, Amelie Lens and More Win 2025 EDMAs: See the Full List of Winners". EDM. March 24, 2025. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
13. Niesel, Jeff. "Kaskade To Perform at FWD Day + Nightclub on June 2". Cleveland Scene. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
14. Smith, Troy (May 24, 2024). "Dinner + a show: FWD opening weekend". Axios. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
15. Meyer, Anna (August 9, 2023). "Machine Gun Kelly to perform in Cleveland on August 12: How to get tickets". wkyc.com. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
16. Vegh, Judie (August 7, 2021). "'Jersey Shore's' DJ Pauly D fist pumps the night away at Cleveland's FWD (photos)". cleveland. Retrieved September 3, 2025.

External links

Official website