Birdtown Brewing to Open This Spring in Lakewood

The long-delayed brewery and restaurant project is finally set to debut after over a decade of planning.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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After over a decade of delays, the Birdtown Brewing project in Lakewood, Ohio is finally set to open in late-March or early-April 2026. The brewery and restaurant will be located in a converted 100-year-old Byzantine Gothic Revival church, featuring a 32-foot live-edge bartop, a brewhouse, seating for 260 guests, and a partnership with the iconic Geraci's pizza.

Why it matters

The Birdtown Brewing project has been in the works for over 12 years, facing numerous delays, but its opening represents a significant milestone for the Lakewood community. The conversion of the historic church building into a brewery and restaurant is seen as a positive development that will bring new life and economic activity to the area.

The details

Birdtown Brewing received approval from the Lakewood Planning Commission in 2014 to convert the St. Gregory the Theologian Catholic Church into a brewery and restaurant. After years of delays, the owners have made steady progress, importing brewing equipment in 2017 and adding a bar, new stained-glass windows, and panoramic murals over the past 12 months. The 100-year-old church building has been transformed to resemble an Irish pub, with features like pointed arches, dark woods, and stained glass. The brewery will offer a mix of classic ales, lagers, and seltzers, as well as a partnership with the iconic Geraci's pizza, which will be available for the first time on Cleveland's west side.

  • The Lakewood Planning Commission gave its blessing to the Birdtown Brewing project in 2014.
  • The estimated date of arrival for the brewery was originally set for the summer of 2015.
  • Birdtown Brewing imported and installed brewing equipment from Deutsche Beverage in North Carolina in 2017.
  • The bar, new stained-glass windows, and panoramic murals were added over the past 12 months.
  • Birdtown Brewing is set to open in late-March or early-April 2026.

The players

Ryan Grammerstorf

A member of the Birdtown Brewing management team who has been attached to the project since day one.

Zach DelPriore

The head brewer at Birdtown Brewing, who will offer "something for everybody" with a mix of classic ales, lagers, and seltzers.

Bucky Spoth

The president of Geraci's, the iconic pizza restaurant that will be partnering with Birdtown Brewing to offer its thick-cut pepperoni pizzas on Cleveland's west side.

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What they’re saying

“This is exactly what we had in mind. And we're glad we waited, because we fine-tuned over the years what we really wanted it to be. But we couldn't be more excited about what we're doing and everything about this.”

— Ryan Grammerstorf, Birdtown Brewing management (Cleveland Scene)

“The partnership brings together family legacy and craft brewing, built on shared values of food, community and service.”

— Bucky Spoth, Geraci's president (Cleveland Scene)

What’s next

Look for Birdtown Brewing to open in late-March or early-April 2026.

The takeaway

The long-awaited opening of Birdtown Brewing in Lakewood represents a significant milestone for the community, as the conversion of a historic church building into a brewery and restaurant is seen as a positive development that will bring new life and economic activity to the area.