Pete Spittler

We sat down to talk about to Pete Spittler about one of Cleveland’s most exciting entertainment hotspots, Pickwick Frolic Restaurant and Club. Pete Spittler was one of the lead designers on this project and he shared his insight on what made it happen with us.

Presentation Solutions: What is the inspiration of Pickwick & Frolic Restaurant and Club?

Pete Spittler:It’s a restaurant and entertainment venue that is inspired by Charles Dickens The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club and the passions of Nick Kostas, the owner.

Presentation Solutions: What types of food are served there?

Pete Spittler:The restaurant serves 100% made from scratch authentic American cuisine. There’s also appetizers and finger foods available in the martini bar.

Presentation Solutions: Where is it located?

Pete Spittler:It was constructed on East 4^th Street and the site of the original Euclid Avenue Opera House, which was torn down in 1921.

Presentation Solutions: How big is the building?

Pete Spittler:It’s two floors and encompasses 27,000 square feet. It cost nearly $5 million to build and is big enough to hold 900 people at once.

Presentation Solutions: How long did it take to build something that large?

Pete Spittler:The development and blueprints for the building took four and a half years, while the actual construction took place over a period of 20 months.

Presentation Solutions: What are some highlights of the building?

Pete Spittler: What I’m most proud of is the custom 23-foot marquee that protrudes out over East 4^th Street. It’s lit-up by purple and blue neon lights, and was created with more than 400 feet of neon glass. It took more than 650 man hours to create this piece.

Presentation Solutions: Can you describe some of the other architectural highlights?

Pete Spittler:The handrails throughout the building were custom designed and built from scratch over an eight-month period. They are beautiful!

Presentation Solutions: Tell us about the lobby of the building.

Pete Spittler:The lobby is another centerpiece. It was created to resemble a lobby of an old theatre, complete with hand painted wood doors and a grand chandelier.

Presentation Solutions: What are some highlights of the Pickwick restaurant?

Pete Spittler:The bar seats 30 people and has a gorgeous dark brown marble and grain mahogany finish. It’s a real stunner. In addition, all of the booths were custom built.

Presentation Solutions: Any details you’d like to share about the Martini Bar?

Pete Spittler: Yes, for the Martini Bar, we used a red faux wall to set the mood and decorated it with all white Italian furniture. All of the furniture is replicas of 60s style furniture that is preserved at the Smithsonian. I fondly refer to it as the James Bond 007 bar.

Pete Spittler has been involved in many professional pursuits throughout his life, including architecture, real estate, and development planning. Pete Spittler is a graduate of the architecture program at Kent State University in Ohio and has worked on projects with The Austin Company, an international engineering and construction company. Pete Spittler has won many awards for his design work, and he’s recognized for his expertise in the industry.