Cities are always in flux, and capturing their changes is exciting, if disheartening at times. When we moved to Cincinnati four and a half years ago, this ghost sign at Liberty and Walnut was a local icon of Over-the-Rhine’s German past. Then in 2008, an amazing thing happened — Grammer’s reopened! At the end of last weekend’s Bockfest, it has closed again.
Grammer’s was established in 1872. Local politician and OTR cheerleader Jim Tarbell purchased Grammer’s in 1984 and then sold it to what is now the Relish Restaurant Group, whose past and present establishments include Pigall’s [now Local 127 and Tonic], Jean-Ro Bistro [now The Bistro], Chalk [currently closed], Greenup Cafe [currently closed], and Lavomatic.
In its most recent incarnation, Grammer’s survived a fire, but the large painted blackletter sign has remained essentially unchanged. The current owners may reopen the space as a restaurant — for the full scoop, check out Urban Cincy, and be sure to read through the comments for the full scope of the local rumor mill surrounding this neighborhood establishment.
Department of Everyday Visualingual 
There was an informal parade in honor of Grammer’s last Friday night. Let’s hope this neighborhood institution reopens soon!
That’s the current rumor, and I really hope it’s true.
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