There鈥檚 one question asked every time a new brewery opens up in Northeast Ohio: Are there too many breweries?
, who鈥檚 been for more than 15 years and now writes for , says probably not.
鈥淚鈥檓 not doing their books, but I walk into these bars and they鈥檙e busy,鈥� Trattner said.
Even bars off the beaten path, like on Lakeside Avenue in Cleveland, are frequently packed. That鈥檚 why Trattner isn鈥檛 surprised to see established names and new players competing for the region鈥檚 enthusiastic bar crowd.
Akron-based is opening a Cleveland location in the Flats. The space was previously occupied by the ambitious suite of ventures that went belly up last year. After a rough start, the people behind are opening a new brewery in a repurposed church, of all places.
The concept of repurposing old churches into brewpubs is a Rust Belt trend that鈥檚 especially taken off in Pittsburgh. According to Trattner, Birdtown Brewing will be one of the first such pubs in Cleveland.
Big taco
Even with a new bar in the works, Barrio鈥檚 taco business doesn鈥檛 show any signs of slowing down. They will be adding a fifth location to their existing restaurants in Tremont, Lakewood, downtown Cleveland, and Cleveland Heights. When the new Barrio opens in downtown Willoughby, it will replace what used to be an upscale martini bar.
plans to expand its reach within the region鈥檚 booming 鈥� and perhaps crowded 鈥� taco scene. Trattner said BOMBA should appeal to more upscale tastes.
鈥淭hey do tacos, but they鈥檙e kind of chef-driven tacos,鈥� Trattner said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to see interesting fillings and interesting ingredients like duck and things you might not see elsewhere.鈥�
Cleveland and Akron swap favorites
Trattner said Canton residents should be especially excited to see set up shop at the mall in Belden Village.
鈥淭hese folks used to drive up to Cleveland to eat these grilled cheeses,鈥� Trattner said.
Local chains like Melt offer customers 鈥渢he best of both worlds,鈥� according to Trattner. They appeal to people who want to support local businesses but also want the predictability of bigger chains, of which Canton has many.
The Akron-Canton area will also be giving a piece of its culinary scene to Cleveland. plans to open a location in University Heights after not making a move in several years.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 another local regional chain that鈥檚 really going to start spreading its wings,鈥� Trattner said. 鈥淭hey got a food truck, and all of a sudden folks up north knew what 厂飞别苍蝉辞苍鈥檚 was for the first time.鈥�
The Year of the Donut
For dessert, the Cleveland suburbs will soon have their pick of donut joints as the niche restaurant trend takes over. After working the and pop-up circuit, the beer-donut hybrid concept has opened its first brick-and-mortar location in Detroit Shoreway. Meanwhile, has acquired a storefront in Hingetown, prompting Trattner to declare 2017 as 鈥淭he Year of the Donut.鈥�
And that鈥檚 just fine with Trattner.
鈥淵ou could literally have one in every neighborhood, and it still won鈥檛 be too much,鈥� Trattner said.
鈥淚鈥檓 sure we鈥檙e bound to get the same question we get when it comes to breweries: 鈥榃hen have we reached peak donut?鈥欌��
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