Royal Docks to open another taproom. Where is Stark-based brewer heading?

Royal Docks Brewing Co. is expanding to Cleveland.

The Jackson Township-based brewery plans to open a restaurant and taproom called Royal Docks Tied House + Kitchen in April or May at West 28th Street and Detroit Avenue.

The Tied House will be Royal Docks' fourth location. Founded in 2015, it now operates three spots in Stark County.

The new Cuyahoga County location will be next to COhatch Ohio City, a coworking space that offers an office-type atmosphere. Royal Docks, which has taprooms in Jackson and Plain townships and a production brewery in Jackson, said it is the next step in its plan to "grow its globally inspired concept" throughout Northeast Ohio.

Royal Docks brewmaster Dave Sutula said the move into what's known as the Hingetown area of Cleveland has been coming for some time.

The brewery's plan has been to grow not only in small, rural communities but also urban centers, he said, adding that the pandemic changed the timeline.

“The opportunity with COhatch evolved for us,” he said.

The Cleveland neighborhood is home to the cradle of craft brewing for Ohio, with the state's oldest craft brewery in Great Lakes Brewing located just down the street. The area also is flush with other breweries, including Market Garden, Hansa House, Nano Brew Cleveland, Bookhouse and Saucy.

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The building where Royal Docks will open is owned and managed by COhatch.

“COhatch has always been about providing more than just office space; we are committed to providing members unique amenities delivered at a high level,” said Kristina Rus, COhatch’s market leader in Cleveland.

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Why is Royal Docks Brewing opening in Cleveland?

Sutula said the Cleveland location was the right place.

“COhatch in the Hingetown neighborhood is the perfect place for us to open in Cuyahoga County," he said. "The community is already built, it’s a very walkable area. We are hopeful, as always, that our customers will become our evangelists.”

Tied House will feature the small-batch beers that Royal Docks has developed over its first nine years, including favorites Backyard Crusher, Northeast Legacy Lager, Royal Pils and Vlad Imperial Stout, plus wood-aged selections that will be made on-site in Hingetown. A full-service cocktail bar will also be a feature.

The kitchen is to be centered around a carefully selected central menu featuring shareables, flatbreads, sandwiches and salads.

Although the Hingetown space was ready to occupy and set for operation, Sutula said Wednesday that Royal Docks needed to “put our DNA in there. We have white tiles and reclaimed wood, and we want to make the space our own. Signage, licensing and training also need to take place prior to opening.”

The Royal Docks expansion comes at the same time that many craft breweries are struggling with increased competition and younger drinkers gravitating more to seltzers and cocktails than beer. Despite the challenges, Ohio set a record for craft breweries last year, with 434 operating in the Buckeye State.

The Ohio Craft Brewers Association has said there are craft breweries in 73 of Ohio's 88 counties − and at least another 68 breweries are in the planning stages statewide.

Reach Bev at bshaffer@gannett.com or 330-580-8318.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Royal Docks Brewing to open taproom in Cleveland