Brewery to take over Arena District site
Louisville company targeting Feb. opening
Goodwood Brewing & Spirits, Louisville's largest brewery, is taking over the former Gordon Biersch brewpub space in the Arena District.
The brewpub is targeting a February opening, said owner and CEO Ted Mitzlaff.
“We were looking in the Columbus area for some time when we came across this space,” Mitzlaff said. “I'd been there a few times, when it was Gordon Biersch, and loved the location and what Nationwide has done in that area. We were thrilled to reopen that space.”
After 19 years in the Arena District, Gordon Biersch closed its brewpub in early March 2020, following the bankruptcy of its corporate parent.
Goodwood operates brewpubs in Frankfort and Lexington, Kentucky, and in Indianapolis, in addition to its hometown Louisville location. It has also announced plans to open in Owensboro, Kentucky, and is looking at other sites, Mitzlaff said.
The Gordon Biersch location comes ready made with furnishings and beer equipment, like the former Ram Restaurant and Brewery that Goodwood took over in Indianapolis.
“We'll have to bring in some new kitchen equipment and signage, of course,” Mitzlaff said. “Some of the things we prepare require smokers, and we'll do upgraded audio for more of a sports-bar-type viewing experience. We love the pool table there, and we'll bring in shuffleboard and other amenities.”
At 13,400 square feet indoors and 900 square feet outdoors, the site will be Goodwood's largest location.
Founded in 2005 and given its current name in 2015, Goodwood specializes in beers aged in bourbon barrels, although the brewery offers a full lineup of beers and ales.
“We'll continue to support the core brands in Columbus, those that made us popular, our lager, walnut brown and a lot of the barrel-aged beers,” Mitzlaff said. “On site we'll also do the beer nerd stuff – stouts, sours, we like to have fun with it.”
Goodwood's menu is wide-ranging and includes some Southern staples such as shrimp and grits, catfish and fried green tomatoes.
Goodwood also produces bourbon and rye whiskeys, which Mitzlaff said he hopes to get state approval to sell in Ohio. jweiker@dispatch.com @Jimweiker