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Update: Good news today, folks. Lakewood has given unanimous approval for the plans for Birdtown Brewery & Pizzeria to go forward. Via Cleveland.com:

The planning commission Thursday night gave unanimous approval for developers to move forward with plans to turn a former Birdtown neighborhood church into a brewery and restaurant.

Developers Tom Leneghan, Sean Fairbairn and Jake Hawley said following the vote they plan to purchase the property this month, begin construction this fall, and open the Birdtown Brewery by summer 2015.

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Rumor has it that a new brewery may be landing in the Birdtown neighborhood. Residents got to hear some of the concrete details about the potential new project at a city meeting earlier this evening.

Tonight, representatives from the city of Lakewood and the Barrio Restaurant Group (Tom Leneghan and Sean Fairbairn) laid out some preliminary plans to the community for Birdtown Brewery & Pizzeria, a tentatively titled project that’s in the very early stage of conception and approval. The group has the former St. Gregory the Theologian Byzantine Catholic Church (2035 Quail St.,Lakewood) under a letter of intent. The 10,000 square foot building would house a restaurant and a small brewery operation.

The brew house would be one of the smallest in the region with only a three and half barrel system. “Our plan is to create a neighborhood and boutique-driven brewery that is all about Lakewood pride,” says Fairbairn. For now, much is up in the air, but the group is thinking food will be focused on pizza, should the sale and approvals all go through.

The next steps for the proposed project include a Lakewood city planning commission meeting set for May, followed by another community meeting.

This article appears in Jun 4-10, 2014.

Jason Beudert has had a dynamic career as a leader with The Walt Disney Company, ESPNZone, The Cleveland Indians, and as a restaurant entrepreneur. He is utilizing his twenty years of hospitality experience along with his love for the Cleveland food scene to contribute exciting and insightful food pieces for Scene. Along with being one of our food writers, Jason is also the food critic for WOIO 19 Action News, and makes a weekly appearance on Q104's Fee's Kompany radio show to promote food and the Scene. Jason is also a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure Magazine.

13 replies on “Group Talks About Adding Restaurant/Brewery in Lakewood (Updated)”

  1. Generally I would be all for adding another craft brewery, but I object to the location. The area is residential and there is a middle school on the opposite corner. This belongs on Madison or Detroit. Not one of the side roads.

  2. I love this idea!! Bird Town used to have cute little stores and a few small bars all through the neighborhood. What a great way to try and start bringing some life back to the neighborhood!

  3. There is a brewery restaurant outside of Pittsburgh that sounds similar to this concept. Incredible place w awesome atmosphere, food and beer. Seemed always packed. AND it was in a lower income residential area. I hope this happens, I own a double on Quail and can’t wait to frequent this establishment.

  5. I like the idea, but I have to agree about the location. Not just because of the school, but parking for the locals is going to be a big issue. Nothing like 200 patrons at a bar restaurant every evening to lock-up a residential street. I would hope that the city will consider that in the proposal.

  7. nothing in lakewood gets approved without parking. the zoning code is pretty specific and requires parking based on the number of tables etc. in the establishment. good luck to the owners. hopefully they can put together plans that would be beneficial to the neighbors and the neighborhood.

  8. The plan sounds a bit nebulous. “Wellllllll, we THINK we’ll do pizza. Maybe something else.” Also, you can’t just say you want to brew beer and poof! you have good beer. The brewmaster hire will be crucial. But who would want to ply their craft on such a small brewing system?

  9. Hey Sounds Like a Good Plan in BIRD TOWN—I USED TO LIVE DOWN THERE ON MAGEE.. STREET .IT IS A SAFE WALKING AREA AND NOT TO FAR FROM MADISON PARK -POOL-LIBRARY–AND ON THE OTHER END NEAR THE BORDER—117th STREET…. I AM ALL FOR IT…..

  10. HEY FIRST COMMENT–U ARE PRETTY STUPID SAYING THE BAR SHOULD BE ON DETROIT OR MADISON—IT IS ON MADISON …THAT IS WHERE BIRDTOWN IS LOCATED—FROM 117TH TO AROUND 125TH AREA…… DUMB DUMB–U MUST NOT LIVE IN LAKEWOOD—IF U DON’T KNOW THE AREA……..

  11. Ummm… 1st commenter Craig – that’s an elementary school (Harrison), not a middle school. The middle school is pretty much directly north, on Detroit. Breweries are typically a bit higher-brow than basic bars (which are not that much further away from the school anyway), and it’s a near walk for the artist collaborative stuff at the old Lake Erie Screw Factory building. Location is part of the equation but the size & availability of a facility is also part of it.

    Now, “does Lakewood need yet another establishment with a liqueur license” is a a related, relevant, and valid question.

  12. Something that focuses on the community? Sounds like a win to me! And is there such a thing as a good parking situation in lakewood? Not really. Locals and visitors have learned to handle things so far, I’m pretty sure they’ll manage just fine with one extra business.

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