Finally! Birdtown Brewing opens in Lakewood

The intrigue: When the Lakewood Planning Commission granted approval for the church conversion 12 years ago, craft breweries were booming, locally and nationally.

📉 Yes, but: The market has grown turbulent in recent years, with younger generations consuming less and less alcohol.

• In 2024, independent brewery closures outpaced openings for the first time in 20 years.
• The trend continued in 2025, with Bookhouse, Arsenal Cider House and Royal Docks closing in Ohio City alone, and more shuttering in the suburbs.

Vibe check: Birdtown Brewing has both a distinctive physical space and a full kitchen — featuring Geraci's pizza — to attract customers from Lakewood and beyond.

Zoom in: The brewery has capacity for 260, with a lower-level barroom and patio, per Cleveland Scene.

• "The bartop and tables downstairs are constructed from the former Lakewood High School gymnasium floor."

Stop by: Birdtown Brewing opens at 4 pm Thursday.

• If you're popping it into your GPS, don't confuse it with "Birdietown," the mini-golf bar that opened just up the street last year on Madison Avenue.