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The Other Paper wrote
Bar hoppers: The Brewery District misses you
By KITTY McCONNELL
Published: Thursday, August 7, 2008
A general question for Columbus residents: When was the last time you went to the Brewery District? And why?
Back in the early ’90s, this German Village neighbor could drink any other Columbus bar district under the table. But since the rise of Park Street and the Short North, destination drinkers have, for the most part, deserted the Brewery District.
The Brewery District seems on the cusp of returning to its former glory, especially now that Shadowbox Cabaret has announced plans to move into the South High Street property that formerly was Brewmasters Gate. Outland, a long-standing dance club that’s the center of Columbus’s seemingly immortal goth-industrial scene, also announced plans last spring to relocate to the Brewery District, and Victory’s, a once-popular sports bar that is temporarily closed, is set to reopen, according to McConville.
Related Stories:
- Shadowbox moving into the Brewery District
You know what would be nice to have in the Brewery District? More breweries!
+1
And I don’t even like beer.
Does anyone know why they named it the Brewery District. From what I have seen there were only a handful of bars in the area. Was there actually a brewery in that area at one time? The buildings are nice but the bars are out dated. The new bar that went in ” After 5″ I never see anyone there. I think the only one I remember is Gibby’s and I cant remember if that was the name or not. This could be a nice alternate from the Short North if you wanted to do something different but the problem is there is nothing there as for as I am concerned that would make you want to go….
Not quite sure on my history, but there were several breweries in that area in the pre-prohibition days. I believe Hoster’s and Gambrinus were set up there. Both had their micros in the 1990′s.
There were actually breweries there before prohibition:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brewery_District
There were actually bars there before the Arena District was built.
I agree, more breweries would be nice!! It’s a damn shame that Hoster’s isn’t still a brew pub! I used to work there back in the day, loved the beer too. That 90 schilling Scottish ale and the Reverend Perly Pale ale were soooo good!!
Hoster actually did quite well there for a long time as a micro brewery (compared to the other bars).
Isn’t the Columbus Brewing Company located there? They carry a 90 Schilling ale. Probably my favorite beer of all time.
The restaurant is still there (which I like a lot), but I believe they don’t brew the beer there anymore.
So here’s a thought for the aspiring entrepreneurs and entrepreneuses out there who want to revitalize the Brewery District.
Single malt Scotch is all the rage, has been for years. But prices are getting crazy because it’s catching on elsewhere (and because the dollar sucks). You can’t make Scotch here, obviously. But single-malt just means one grain… so American whiskey companies are starting to see the potential. What’s so special about barley, the grain at the heart of Scotch? (Okay, a lot.) But equally special are some other grains that we might have to offer.
Witness, for example, Anchor Brewing Company’s Old Potrero single-malt rye whiskey.
I have no idea whether this portends a new era in American single-malt whiskeys — it’s only a decade old. But it sure is an interesting thought…. I wouldn’t at all mind having it be renamed “The Distillery District.” :wink:
And I don’t even like beer.
Wha…? :shock:
And now I’m sure you’re all just waiting to hear my analysis. There are, of course, several reasons that contributed to the downfall of the BD. That’s not to say there aren’t good places to go right now. Hi-Beck, Gresso’s, Plank’s, and I hear Toni’s makes some mean chicken alferdo. Being off the beaten path can always work in the district’s favor. As to why less people go:
*Suburban development like Kroger while giving locals a grocery store option, has lots of surrounding land that could be condos and shops and bars ( and I’m sure you could fit in another brewery), but is their surface lot.
*The Short North and Arena District are right next to each other and cater to different tastes (if you have taste, you’ll be heading to the SN). The BD is all by its lonesome and there are no maps pointing out bars in nearby German Village. Bars there are scattered throughout the neighborhood and you can’t walk right next door to the next bar.
*Places like CBC and Claddagh’s close at 10 and 11, respectively, on weekend nights. If you want to be a night owl and stay up later you have less options.
*Front and High in the BD are both less pedestrian friendly than Park in the AD and High in the SN.
*SN borders the cap. BD borders a juvenile detention center.
There are improvements being made, like the residential going in where the Salvation Army was. That building is going to look very nice when it’s renovated.
Park Street killed the Brewery District Star.
victory’s is re-opening…there is a god.
Single malt Scotch is all the rage, has been for years. But prices are getting crazy because it’s catching on elsewhere (and because the dollar sucks). You can’t make Scotch here, obviously. But single-malt just means one grain… so American whiskey companies are starting to see the potential. What’s so special about barley, the grain at the heart of Scotch? (Okay, a lot.) But equally special are some other grains that we might have to offer.
Witness, for example, Anchor Brewing Company’s Old Potrero single-malt rye whiskey.
I have no idea whether this portends a new era in American single-malt whiskeys — it’s only a decade old. But it sure is an interesting thought…. I wouldn’t at all mind having it be renamed “The Distillery District.” :wink:
Barrister Hall used to have an AWESOME single malt scotch selection(it was right next to High-Beck and Hosters), one of the best in Ohio…it closed down too. :oops:
And now I’m sure you’re all just waiting to hear my analysis. There are, of course, several reasons that contributed to the downfall of the BD. That’s not to say there aren’t good places to go right now. Hi-Beck, Gresso’s, Plank’s, and I hear Toni’s makes some mean chicken alferdo. Being off the beaten path can always work in the district’s favor. As to why less people go:
*Suburban development like Kroger while giving locals a grocery store option, has lots of surrounding land that could be condos and shops and bars ( and I’m sure you could fit in another brewery), but is their surface lot.
*The Short North and Arena District are right next to each other and cater to different tastes (if you have taste, you’ll be heading to the SN). The BD is all by its lonesome and there are no maps pointing out bars in nearby German Village. Bars there are scattered throughout the neighborhood and you can’t walk right next door to the next bar.
*Places like CBC and Claddagh’s close at 10 and 11, respectively, on weekend nights. If you want to be a night owl and stay up later you have less options.
*Front and High in the BD are both less pedestrian friendly than Park in the AD and High in the SN.
*SN borders the cap. BD borders a juvenile detention center.
.
really, i figure that 35 mph streets downtown, the new town-rich street bridge, and global warming all killed the brewery district. :wink:
Name one thriving ped-friendly 35 MPH street in this city or even in Clintonville.
The money for that bridge could be used for the streetcar extension south of Downtown.
The traffic Downtown around rush-hour kills my lungs and are doing their fair share to contributing to global warming, but I’m more concerned about air quality myself.
I’m starting to think it’s less about the 10MPH speed difference and more about the “buffer” that aesthetically separates the street from the sidewalk.
I think Columbusite must have the weakest lungs in the whole city. ;)
+1 for Columbusite.
The BD is pretty dead end to the west and south, and its a small few block area to begin with. High St is pretty wide and fast through there and I 70 does not help with its moatlike division from downtown.
I think Columbusite might have weak lungs
Columbusite’s bloodlust for 25 mph streets aside, they really can make a difference. I’ve been to a handful of US cities that make great use of them in and around their CBD’s (Charlotte, Portland, San Diego, and San Fran), and they make pedestrians feel much more welcome. In the Brewery District, I think Front St. could be narrowed to one lane in each direction instead of 1 South/2 North, bike lanes added, a few traffic calming devices installed, and dropped from 35 mph to 25 mph.
Idunno what all the fuss is about the Brewery District needing more nightlife. Who says it needs to be a “nightlife district”?
Over the past 4 years, I’ve watched it slowly evolve away from being heavily dominated by bars, to becoming Columbus’ best example of a dense mixed-use neighborhood. We’ve got all kinds of great service oriented shops (a dry cleaner, banks, tailors, salons, coffee shops, a gas station, lawyers, medical professionals, a tanning salon, a nice range of bars and restaurants, and a the crown jewel…a grocery store with a pharmacy). Germania and Greystone Winery do brisk wedding business. In a couple years, we’ll have our own sketch comedy troupe. Hell, we’ve even got a haunted house. :lol:
I think we could still use a nice gym if any entrepreneurs are looking for a business venture. Also, as was previously mentioned, we could use a couple more breweries. The old Metro space anyone?
It might not have the flashy art galleries and arches of the Short North, or the meat market bars of Park St., or the sporting venues of the Arena District, but it’s got more practical day-to-day amenities than anywhere I can think of in this town. We’ve even got fairly affordable housing. People just need to get over their memories about it being THE nightclub district in Columbus, and the rest settles itself.
And I also think Columbusite might have weak lungs. Or maybe he should move to Franklinton to get upwind of Downtown’s vehicular pollution. :wink:
Weak lungs aside, I think my main point was a streetcar for more development and/or making roads more ped/bike-friendly to attract and retain more walkability. Maybe it´s because most people including myself don´t venture outside of the north part of the BD is the reason why we don´t see the other stuff. For example, I didn´t know of any coffeeshops there (unless you´re borrowing from GV). I don´t think it needs to be Park St, but my friend and I found out why few people were out on a Friday night there when we walked to CBC and Claddagh´s only to find out how early they closed and while there were other options like Woody´s and After 5 (I like Lotus better) they didn´t interest us. It´d be nice to have worthy places off of High St too, though we did go to CBR on Front and that wasn’t bad.