USA, OH: The Lot Beer Co. already open in the Granville area

A new brewery and restaurant offers the Granville area a hint of nostalgia while also bringing a different energy to the village, The Newark Advocate reported on December 13.

The Lot Beer Co., opened in early November at 140 N. Prospect St., the former home of Three Tigers Brewing Co.

Owner Trent Beers, who also owns Seek-No-Further Cidery in the village, said he wanted to create a chill, laid-back spot where people could go to dinner as well as have something to do. The restaurant features roughly a dozen classic arcade video games as well as pinball machines and Skee-Ball.

"It's like kind of a higher energy, fun evening, you know, with friends and family with great house-made beer and a fun, nostalgic menu," Beers said.

Beers said he wants The Lot's atmosphere to feel like tailgating before a concert or a football game.

"It's the idea of hanging out, having hotdogs and hamburgers, having a beer and having a chill time," he said.

The concept, Beers said, came from him being nostalgic for Three Tigers, which moved into its new home across the street in the spring. He said there were a few parties interested in the space, but they would have gutted it.

"It was my spot to hang out. I've always felt it to be, like, a very cozy, warm neighborhood spot," he said. "The thought of it changing to that extreme, I didn’t love it."

That got his wheels turning to create a space where the community could gather, he said.

"A big part of the idea here, and the cidery, is community too. It’s just, like, a place to come together," he said. "You can play some games. It’s something for (the) community and family really."

As a father with three young kids, Beers knows the struggle of taking his family out to dinner. The Lot offers an experience that kids can enjoy as well. Since opening, Beers said kids and their parents pass time waiting for their meals by playing games.

"It makes going out to eat a little more enjoyable, I think, to be able to offer something like that," he said.

Children 10 and under must be supervised while in the arcade, and the restaurant has a 21 and older policy past 8 p.m.

Beers said people of all ages have been excited about the arcade games, from little kids to people in their 50s who haven't played some of the classic games since they were teenagers.

"It’s so cool to just see it be such a multi-generational appeal," he said.

Video game play is free with the purchase of food or drink, Beers said, but the pinball machines and Skee-Ball are excluded.

While from the outside it might appear that The Lot is competing with Three Tigers, Beers said it's the opposite. Beers' business bought brewing equipment from Three Tigers and two breweries have already collaborated on a beer called Power Corner, a nod to the end of North Prospect Street that they share.

"This is a boost for both of us to be neighbors and create a little destination here," he said.

More collaborations are in the works as the two businesses hope to jointly host events in the future, Beers said.

The Lot is also partnering with other local businesses, Beers said, such as Bird's Haven Farms for pumpkins used in a pumpkin ale, Black Radish Creamery for cheese curds included in poutine, and Barn Owl Bakery cookies featured in ice cream sandwiches.

"We’ve tried to partner where we can," he said.

The Lot has six of their own beers on tap as well as a wide selection of domestic and craft beer, Beers said. The food menu features The Lot's take on gourmet hamburgers and hotdogs, which are priced at $9 and $7 respectively.

"It's kind of always on our mind of keeping things reasonable for people," Beers said.

The Lot Beer Co. is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 3-11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; and Sunday from 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

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