World of Beer Coming to Detroit Avenue

Lakewood folks enjoy decent beer.

That's part of the reasoning by a group of entrepreneurs who are opening a new, craft beer emporium on Detroit Avenue.

World of Beer has announced plans to move into a 3,600-square-foot space in the , across the street from .

But this bar chain will only serve fancy beers. 

Mark Pottschmidt, a partner in the enterprise, said that the bar will feature 500 different bottles of beer, and 50 taps that rotate every night.

Liquor won’t be served at World of Beer, but a few wines will be offered.

“Our focus is definitely on the beer,” he said, adding that the staff undergoes a rigorous two-week “beer school.”

“If someone comes in looking for a Bud Light, our staff can direct them to a quality beer. Because we don’t sell Bud Light.”

Yup, you read that correctly. The bar won’t sell Miller or Coors products either.

“We don’t consider ourselves beer snobs, but our concept is to encourage people to try something a little bit outside of their comfort zone,” Pottschmidt said. “There’s already a great beer culture in Lakewood.”

In addition to serving up craft brews, the bar will also feature live music three nights per week.

But, as part of the concept, the business won’t serve food.

Instead, World of Beer partners with other businesses, and allows table service via delivery from other restaurants.

“We like to locate amongst other restaurants and bars in the area,” Pottschmidt said.

There are already 27 other World of Beer locations, but most of them are in Florida. Two are in Columbus.

The Lakewood location is expected to open by Thanksgiving, with the build-out likely beginning in September, Pottschmidt said.

Although the bar hasn’t yet submitted its proposal to the city, there are plans to install patio with as many as 20 bar stools.

Dru Siley, the city’s director of planning and development, said that “there’s some good buzz” from other restaurants downtown, “supportive of them coming in.”

“I think it’s another dimension to our downtown being a destination in Northeast Ohio,” Siley said.