Right, the strongest local businesses will survive the pandemic while others that were already struggling will be forced out of business. When this is all over, those empty spaces will be filled with new businesses or, like this Braxton example, expansions of existing businesses that survived.

Does anyone have the link to the reddit post about Braxton potentially taking over 3 points? I cant seem to find it on r/Cincinnati

1 hour ago, troeros said:

Kinda scary to see so many businesses shutter one after another in otr/Pendleton...

It's going to be a rough next year for you if you're going to react like this every time a place closes.  Global pandemics don't come around very often and the ramifications will be/are huge for a lot of businesses.  

I'm trying to figure out what the Spanish Flu's effect was on permanent business closures, especially in Ohio. I suspect it wasn't nearly as bad since the cost of doing business back then was so much lower than it is today and companies were more used to business disruptions for various reasons.

56 minutes ago, Cincy513 said:

It's going to be a rough next year for you if you're going to react like this every time a place closes.  Global pandemics don't come around very often and the ramifications will be/are huge for a lot of businesses.  

 

I realize that this is uncontrollable and doesn't happen every day.. still sad to see otr make sooo much progress only for something like this to happen and create so much backwards progress. It just sucks is all I'm saying. 

1 hour ago, troeros said:

Does anyone have the link to the reddit post about Braxton potentially taking over 3 points? I cant seem to find it on r/Cincinnati

 

It's in the Cincinnati Beer subreddit: Braxton is moving into the old 3 Points space

1 hour ago, GCrites80s said:

I'm trying to figure out what the Spanish Flu's effect was on permanent business closures, especially in Ohio.

 

It wasn't possible to go into personal or business debt as easily as it is now. 

 

If anyone is familiar with the "Meet Kevin" youtube channel - that knucklehead maxed out his home equity lines of credit on 7 rental homes and threw it all in the stock market back in March.  He claims that he's currently up $600,000.  It's like, sell dude.  Instead he is staying in until he "needs the money". 

2 hours ago, troeros said:

 

I realize that this is uncontrollable and doesn't happen every day.. still sad to see otr make sooo much progress only for something like this to happen and create so much backwards progress. It just sucks is all I'm saying. 

It definitely sucks but it's happening all over the world.  OTR is still going to be the most popular neighborhood in the city when things go back to normal.  I think the prime Vine St spots that open will fill up pretty easily next year.  It's certainly a setback, but not something that is going to stop people from wanting to go out and live in this part of the city imo.  

Northern Kentucky bourbon distillery building event center

 

A Northern Kentucky distillery best known for its bourbon is expanding with an event center and bar being built onto its Boone County facility.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/07/14/exclusive-northern-kentucky-bourbon-distillery-bui.html

 

Braxton officially buys 3 Points....

https://www.wlwt.com/article/braxton-brewing-to-open-new-location-in-over-the-rhine/33376811#

 

So dumb.  There's no reason Braxton needs this many locations. 

The Business Courier has more information about Braxton's plans:

 

Quote

Braxton CEO Jake Rouse told me he was approached by the Hickory Wald Group, which operated the brewery for its investor-owners. He said they wanted to go back to focusing on their other properties – Hickory Wald operates Nation Kitchen + Bar in Pendleton, Rhinehaus in Over-the-Rhine and Hannaford at Pike & Madison – as they work toward opening a new Nation location in Westwood. [...]

 

Each of the Braxton locations in Northern Kentucky has its own distinct feel and mission. The original Braxton Brewing Co. in Covington is meant as a community anchor, the neighborhood brewery. Braxton Labs is devoted to creating experimental beers that push the envelope, and the Barrel House specializes in aging beers inside of oak barrels that had previously housed spirits like bourbon or cognac.

 

Rouse said the Cincinnati location will be a "best of all worlds," an opportunity to take all of its facilities and create a pattern that could be replicated as it enters other cities. [...]

 

Braxton is keeping on Three Points' head brewer, Patrick Mulrey, to serve as its brewer for the Cincinnati location. It will also meet with employees all this week to see who wants and will be able to stay on.

 

Braxton will also be acquiring the former CHX space and opening a restaurant there.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if we see more Braxton locations in other Ohio/Kentucky cities a year from now, based on what their Pendleton location.

I really enjoyed 3 Points, both their location/space and their actual beer, which I think was best in the city. Sad to see them go, but Braxton is a solid replacement. 

On 6/17/2020 at 8:04 AM, Cygnus said:

Rumblings on Reddit is that 3 Points in Pendleton has permanently closed and that Braxton will be taking over their space.

 

Confirmed: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2020/07/21/braxton-brewing-co-expanding-cincinnati/5477576002/

I'm not sure I get Braxton's strategy of opening 4 locations in the 275 loop, I feel like opening up a spot in Louisville, Columbus or Indy would make more sense to capture a new market (and that still may happen). That being said I like 3 points location and loved the interior but never liked their beer, and I'm glad it wont just sit vacant.

 

That still leaves the Rock Bottom vacancy to be filled... 50 West or Madtree? 

I've heard rumblings that this location will allow Braxton to self distribute in Ohio instead of going through a third party. Don't know if that's actually the reason or not.

Ohio-based breweries can distribute their own beer in the state. With that being said, the Pendleton location is very small and doesn't have a canning/bottling operation. But I wonder if simply having a brewing operation in Ohio gives them the legal right to distribute their own beer in the state, even though the beer being distributed wasn't actually canned in Ohio.

23 minutes ago, taestell said:

Ohio-based breweries can distribute their own beer in the state. With that being said, the Pendleton location is very small and doesn't have a canning/bottling operation. But I wonder if simply having a brewing operation in Ohio gives them the legal right to distribute their own beer in the state, even though the beer being distributed wasn't actually canned in Ohio.

 

Right. That's the question I have as well. I'm assuming they know the laws allow it if this was the driving reason to do it.

I think this is huge news tbh. 

 

This will be massively popular when fcc opens up their west end stadiums during matches and I think this will finally give a little bit of credence to them being a local beer company (even though their located right across the river).

2 minutes ago, troeros said:

this will finally give a little bit of credence to them being a local beer company (even though their located right across the river).

 

I don't know anyone who thinks differently of Braxton because they are in Covington. Everyone counts them as one of the largest, best, and most successful local breweries. They are just below Rhinegeist and MadTree in which breweries people probably think of first.

I'm encouraged that they are keeping 3 Points' head brewer onboard as well.

Construction of this expansion already appears to be underway:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/07/27/sam-adams-making-largest-ever-investment-into-cin.html

 

I would guess that Sam Adams is responsible for tearing down the row buildings that used to line Findlay between Central Parkway and Central Ave.  They were torn down around 2001 or 2002.  They created a really cool view because of the bend in Findlay St.  If they manage to build up to the property lines to either side of Findlay that effect will come back.  

 

In related news(?), Samual Adams' stock has doubled in value this year, up to $800/share.  

Seems like their ability to distribute to national chains in bottles and cans amid a pandemic might be the biggest benefit? But I don't know. AB InBev seems to have stopped the bleeding during the pandemic, but if things return to normal, I would expect them to continue their downward trend.

Also, Sam Adams appears to be doing well with Angry Orchard, so perhaps it's their non-beer offerings that's leading the majority of their stock bump, in addition to their ability to send out tons of cans and bottles to stores when bars are shut down. 

^ and Truly. Seltzers are growing very fast and Truly is #2 to only White Claw and makes up 22% of the US market share. 

I am somewhat surprised that Sam Adams is doubling down on its location given how much more valuable it is now than when they bought the operation from Hudepohl in 1997.  

 

16 hours ago, jmecklenborg said:

I am somewhat surprised that Sam Adams is doubling down on its location given how much more valuable it is now than when they bought the operation from Hudepohl in 1997.  

 

Even though the land is more valuable then when they bought it, it's still way cheaper then trying to expand in Boston.  Not to mention here in Cincy we're much closer to the middle and western half of the country then Boston.  Their shipping/distribution to the midwest and west coast is a lot cheaper from here.  The owner is also from Cincinnati.  Maybe he actually just likes supporting his home town rather then trying to make a buck? 

I remember reading a few years ago that their Cincinnati brewery was producing so much beer and cider, it was basically running at 100% capacity and they didn't even have time to shut it down for routine maintenance without affecting production. Then they completed an expansion at their other brewing facility which allowed them to slow down production in Cincinnati to a more reasonable level. They probably want to get ahead of future growth and expand now so they don't end up in another situation where they're pegged at 100% again.

By move out of their current location I meant move somewhere else in the Cincinnati area, not out of the city entirely. 

I don't think their West End location is valuable enough to justify them building a new facility elsewhere and scrapping one that they've already invested so much money into. The one advantage of the Sam Adams site is that it's a large contiguous lot which could be more easily developed into a large infill project, but that's assuming that such a project wouldn't be NIMBYed and downsized by the OTR and West End community councils. Considering how long it has taken to get the Freeport Row project going, I don't think market-rate development will be jumping across Central Parkway any time soon.

 

Just like Liberty Street was a huge obstacle for development moving north, Central Parkway will be a huge obstacle for development moving west. And if you think of the four quadrants created by those two streets, the NW quadrant (where Sam Adams is located) has the least going for it -- from Central Pkwy to Linn it's mostly industrial, has few historic buildings left, and still literally has junkyards and horse stables. NE has the streetcar, Findlay Market, and some investment already; SW has the stadium and future stadium-adjacent development, and an existing residential base with City West; SE is where the vast majority of the investment has happened over the last 15 years but still has tons of abandoned buildings and vacant lots that can be developed.

25 minutes ago, taestell said:

I don't think their West End location is valuable enough to justify them building a new facility elsewhere and scrapping one that they've already invested so much money into. The one advantage of the Sam Adams site is that it's a large contiguous lot which could be more easily developed into a large infill project, but that's assuming that such a project wouldn't be NIMBYed and downsized by the OTR and West End community councils. Considering how long it has taken to get the Freeport Row project going, I don't think market-rate development will be jumping across Central Parkway any time soon.

 

Just like Liberty Street was a huge obstacle for development moving north, Central Parkway will be a huge obstacle for development moving west. And if you think of the four quadrants created by those two streets, the NW quadrant (where Sam Adams is located) has the least going for it -- from Central Pkwy to Linn it's mostly industrial, has few historic buildings left, and still literally has junkyards and horse stables. NE has the streetcar, Findlay Market, and some investment already; SW has the stadium and future stadium-adjacent development, and an existing residential base with City West; SE is where the vast majority of the investment has happened over the last 15 years but still has tons of abandoned buildings and vacant lots that can be developed.

 

Or it's the most likely to see large scale redevelopment because the junk yards and horse stables aren't going to NIMBY new development to death. 

The owners of the junkyards and horse stables and big abandoned warehouses aren't going to oppose development in the West End because they're the ones that stand to make money off of it. The West End and OTR CCs will oppose for all the standard reasons -- not affordable enough, too big, we don't like the architecture, it doesn't "fit in" to the neighborhood, there's not enough or too much parking (whichever applies), etc.

Redevelopment doesn't follow an orderly pattern when things get hot.  Things don't inch from one block to the next to the next - developers leap-frog holdouts into seriously bad locations.  In a hyper-gentrification environment like Nashville, giant apartment complexes go up next to defunct car washes and $600,000 homes go up next to cell phone towers.  

 

We haven't had seriously big money come in to Cincinnati from the outside.  When that happens they'll pay off the dorks on these community councils and things will move forward.  

New temporary 10pm statewide curfew for liquor sales going into effect...

 

 

8 hours ago, taestell said:

New temporary 10pm statewide curfew for liquor sales going into effect...

 

So does that mean DUI checkpoints will set up at 7:15pm?

7 minutes ago, jmecklenborg said:

 

So does that mean DUI checkpoints will set up at 7:15pm?

The afterhours parties now start at 11 now. Strippers will have to move up their hours too. 

4 hours ago, Brutus_buckeye said:

The afterhours parties now start at 11 now. Strippers will have to move up their hours too. 

 

A new bar(? I think?) just opened in the former Passion Hookah Lounge space across from Murphy's Pub.  I just drove past it at midnight and it was still going strong in there with girls dancing and nobody wearing masks.  I don't know if they were serving or not, but by the looks of it they're going to get shut down just like Passion Hookah did. 

 

On 7/21/2020 at 10:59 AM, ryanlammi said:

 

Right. That's the question I have as well. I'm assuming they know the laws allow it if this was the driving reason to do it.

More on that:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/08/14/braxton-leans-into-ecommerce.html

 

Braxton Brewing leans into ecommerce as coronavirus restricts taproom business

 

"Rouse said with the recent acquisition of Three Points Urban Brewery in the Cincinnati neighborhood of Pendleton, there has been talk at the brewery of moving all of its ecommerce to Ohio to allow it to ship interstate."

 

I'm already a subscriber to their weekly subscription service and it's been nice to have a new beer crowler every week to bring a little something different into the Groundhog Day routine of quarantine life right now. 

West Side Brewing partners with local nonprofit to create 'Braille Ale'

 

West Side Brewing and the nonprofit Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) have partnered to launch a limited-edition beer with braille embossed on the can.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/08/17/west-side-brewing-partners-with-nonprofit.html

 

Esoteric Brewing, Cincinnati's first minority-owned craft brewery, sets opening date in Walnut Hills' Paramount Square

 

 

Cincinnati's first minority-owned brewery, which aims to elevate the craft beer experience to something akin to visiting a winery or distillery, has set an opening date for its Walnut Hills taproom.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/08/27/esoteric-brewing-sets-opening-date.html

Rebel Mettle sets opening date for downtown craft brewery

 

Cincinnati's first new downtown craft brewery in nearly two decades is set to open in the coming week, but it will take a different focus than its neighboring breweries.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/09/03/rebel-mettle-brewery-opening.html

 

Rebel Mettle Brewery opens in downtown Cincinnati

 

Rebel Mettle Brewery officially opens its doors to the public on Sept. 12, but if you can't wait, we have a sneak preview.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/09/11/rebel-mettle-brewery-opens-in-downtown-cincinnati.html

 

Braxton opens Cincinnati taproom in former Three Points space in Pendleton

 

Braxton Brewing Co. officially opens the doors of its first Cincinnati location on Saturday, Sept. 12. Here's a look inside.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/09/12/inside-braxton-cincinnati.html

 

This is the basement of Northern Row.  It's a pretty crazy space with a 25-foot~ ceiling.  Sorry about the quality of this photo - I was balancing the camera on a barrel or something else a little precarious. 

4 minutes ago, jmecklenborg said:

This is the basement of Northern Row.  It's a pretty crazy space with a 25-foot~ ceiling.  Sorry about the quality of this photo - I was balancing the camera on a barrel or something else a little precarious. 

I didn't know Northern Row was open, do they own that whole building or just in the bottom? I've always liked that building and how prominent it is compared to all it's neighbors, hopefully something happens (either with Northern Row or another use) on the upper floors.

15 minutes ago, ucgrady said:

I didn't know Northern Row was open, do they own that whole building or just in the bottom? I've always liked that building and how prominent it is compared to all it's neighbors, hopefully something happens (either with Northern Row or another use) on the upper floors.

 

They own the whole building.  The tap room is on the ground floor.  The basement isn't open to the public.  They should open a rooftop patio - it would be huge.  They have probably already thought of that but I'm sure it would cost huge money to install an elevator and a bar & bathrooms 7 stories up. 

 

 

 

Highly anticipated brewery inside local landmark sets opening date

 

A Greater Cincinnati craft brewery inside of a local landmark known colloquially as the "Powder Factory" will open its doors at the end of this month. We have your look inside.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/10/12/cartridge-brewing-sets-opening-date.html

 

4 minutes ago, ColDayMan said:

Highly anticipated brewery inside local landmark sets opening date

 

A Greater Cincinnati craft brewery inside of a local landmark known colloquially as the "Powder Factory" will open its doors at the end of this month. We have your look inside.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/10/12/cartridge-brewing-sets-opening-date.html

 

I am sure it is safe, but I am hesistant to try that place given all the lead in the buildign and that was on the grounds from its prior use. I am sure it was cleaned up, but my initial preception causes hesistation on my end. 

I love that complex and with the old smoke stack and clock tower that redevelopment could end up really really cool looking. Like what the US playing card site could have been if they didn't knock the whole thing down except the tower. 

6 minutes ago, ucgrady said:

Like what the US playing card site could have been if they didn't knock the whole thing down except the tower. 

 

Oy vey.  

 

Despite the pandemic the bars on the Loveland bike trail were bustling this summer from 50 West to Loveland and up to Oregonia.  In addition to the cartridge factory microbrewery, there is something that looks like a microbrewery being built in Camp Denison on a triangular piece of land.  

 

Drinking and bicycling is a bad idea, especially in the summer, when you'll become very easily dehydrated.  So doing a bicycle bar hop looks like a good idea on paper but it's a pretty bad one.