Voodoo Brewery To Open In Cleveland Heights

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — Voodoo Brewery will open its first Ohio restaurant and pub on Lee Road in Cleveland Heights, company officials said.

The Cedar-Lee location will be in the former dry cleaning business near the Wine Spot and Mitchell's Chocolates. Jake Voelker, Voodoo's chief operating officer, said his company is aiming for a fall opening.

"I think overall it’s exciting news for Cleveland Heights and the Cedar-Lee district. It complements the existing mix of businesses we have there," Brian Anderson, Cleveland Heights business development manager told Patch.

Voodoo Brewery is headquartered in Western Pennsylvania. For years, customers from Northeast Ohio would flock to Voodoo locations. The surge of interest from the region prompted Voodoo to consider expansion.

"There's an amazing beer community [in Northeast Ohio]," Voelker said. "This is something we've been working on for a long time."

Anderson told Patch Voodoo began expressing interest in Cleveland Heights nearly a year ago. After several conversations, Voodoo appeared to be inching toward the Cedar-Lee district.

Voelker said his team wanted to be in Cleveland Heights because of its diversity and "cool" factor. Lee Road encapsulated that appeal and hopped with vibrancy, he said.

Crews have been working on renovating the future Voodoo site on Lee, adding a kitchen and bar, building the space into a restaurant. Anderson described it as a significant "renovation" and "rehab" of the space.

When Voodoo is built and opens, Voelker expects to employ about 10 people at the site. There won't be any brewing at the Lee Road location, but customers will be able to enjoy a full line of Voodoo beers and a few pub exclusives. The menu will offer "eclectic Voodoo fare" and the atmosphere will be comfortable and relaxed.

Cedar-Lee is quickly becoming a culinary "makers" district, Anderson reflected. With CLE Urban Winery and Boss Dog Brewery anchoring one end of the district, and Mitchell's Chocolates, Voodoo Brewery and the not-yet-opened Marchant Manor Cheese at the other end.

"We’ve been certainly very cognizant of helping and supporting businesses come to Cedar-Lee," Anderson said, "Partially organically and with some support from the city it has taken on this maker's component."