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    Crooked Can Opens in Hilliard with Center Street Market Soon to Follow

    Crooked Can Brewing Company is pouring its first beers in Old Hilliard. The Florida-based brewery has opened its Ohio outpost at 5354 Center St. in Hilliard.

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    The address is more than just a brewery, though. With it comes the Center Street Market – a collection of 11 local vendors, as well as an event space, that looks to become a family-friendly gathering place for the community.

    Modeled after the brewery’s Plant Street Market in Florida, Owner Robert Fry says little has changed since the group first announced their plans for Hilliard in the fall of 2018. It’s been all about execution.

    That execution has paid off as the brewery side of the operation opened a few weeks ago, with the market to follow with a soft opening by the end of the month.

    On the Crooked Can side, imbibers will find 16 taps with a wide range of beers and ciders. Sitting in a unique space that’s somewhere between a partnership and a franchise, Fry says they’ll brew about 10 core beers from the Florida lineup, but have a little freedom to get creative beyond that.

    The High Stepper IPA has been a crowd favorite so far. There’s a Scottish Ale rolling out for St. Patrick’s Day. A Stout, New England IPA, Key Lime Sour and Belgium Golden Ale will also be making tap appearances soon.

    Crooked Can pours from 16 taps

    The brewery’s taproom flows in the market area where 11 local vendors will have their own square footage.

    In curating the vendor lineup, “We started going after the farmers markets and food trucks because we needed people that could work in small spaces,” Fry says.

    He says the market will provide a good in-between step for small, independent businesses that are growing, but not ready to tackle brick-and-mortar on their own. Center Street Market’s vendors include:

    • Dumplings of Fury
    • Bakes by Lo
    • The Cheesecake Girl
    • Rime Time
    • Legacy Station Wings & Tacos
    • Meatball Mafia
    • Coffee Connections
    • Al’s Delicious Popcorn
    • Pitabilities
    • Serendipity
    The Center Street Market has its own entrance

    All are food related, except for Serendipity, which will offer vintage, repurposed, and handcrafted home decor, gifts and furniture. Fry says they erred more on the side of eats based on what’s been successful in Florida.

    He added that within the lineup they tried to create enough variety so vendors weren’t competing with each other. That’s why he has a very specific concept in mind for the 11th and final spot – a burger and/or all-American sandwich vendor.

    As the final elements come together, Fry says the overall concept will be very family-oriented. It’s part of why they ended up in Hilliard. Fry says that in addition to not having a brewery, they wanted to be in a community that was family-friendly. When the opportunity presented itself to build on a space in Old Hilliard that’s across from community amenities like the splash pad and amphitheater, they couldn’t pass it up.

    Center Street Market will add to the street’s vibrancy with a large patio that will have seating, as well as games for kids and adults. There’s an event space in the building, too, that will serve as an overflow seating area when not in use, but can be sectioned off for private events with its own bar and restrooms.

    Fry sees everything up and running by the end of the month, with an official grand opening in early April. For now, the brewery will be open limited hours, including 5 – 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 – 11 p.m. on Friday, 2 – 11 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Sunday.

    When the Market opens, vendors will be open from 10:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. daily, but have the ability to expand their hours earlier and/or later based on demand. Crooked Can will expand its hours to 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. – 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

    For more information, visit crookedcanohio.com and follow Center Street Market on Facebook.

    All photos by Susan Post

    Crooked Can’s taproom & seating area
    Crooked Can’s taproom & seating area
    A lineup of what’s on tap
    Large windows give a peek into the brewery
    The taproom features a second bar with a window for walk-up service outside
    Patrons can grab a beer from the patio
    The patio will provide seating as well as space for games
    More space for patio patrons
    The brewery and market will be up and running by the end of the month
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    Susan Post
    Susan Post
    Susan is the editor of The Metropreneur and associate editor of Columbus Underground, and also covers small business and entrepreneurial news and the food scene in Central Ohio.Susan holds a degree in Communication with a minor in Professional Writing from The Ohio State University. She sits on the board of the Central Ohio Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and loves coffee, whiskey, cooking and spending time with friends and family.
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