There are two stories as to how the Flat Iron got its name. The most common explanation is due to the shape of the building. If you were to look down at the building, it is shaped like an old flat iron. The other explanation is that the building resembles the Flat Iron building in New York City. In the 1800's the Flat Iron building of New York City was the largest of its kind, at 10 stories high. You can view an authentic flat iron at the Cafe.

When the building was turned into an Irish Cafe in 1910, the upstairs was still used by sailors and the proprietors of the Flat Iron over the years. Many Irish families have owned and operated the Cafe for a number of years. Izzy Cohen, who operated the Cafe for some 20 years, made famous the staples that are still served to this day: Meat loaf and mashed potatoes on Monday, corned beef & cabbage on Wednesday, and the great Lake Erie Yellow Perch every Friday. The service was cafeteria style. Everyone would grab a tray, get in line, and Izzy would serve you an amount of food according to your size. The Cafe was very popular throughout the 1950's, 60's, & 70's. Longshoremen, pipe fitters, iron workers and other tradesmen mixed it up with lawyers and businessmen from downtown, meeting for lunch, dinner, or shots and beer at the 30' long bar. All the tables were stretched end to end, so you would be sitting down next to anybody that could happen in. In the early 80's, boaters and young executives opened the eyes of local restaurant and night club owners of the need to find some night life. As a result, the area called the FLATS was refurbished.