Chef Michael Symon is turning a century-old brick storefront in Cleveland’s Flats into a River Roots Barrel Co. whiskey bar and compact brewery, with a full buildout planned at 1826 Columbus Road. The project will refit the Columbus Road peninsula space into a barrel-focused tasting room tied to small-scale production. A preview clip from Symon has already given neighbors a look at the stripped-down interior and some early design ideas, arriving as part of a broader push to bring more food and drink life back to the riverfront.
Symon, a partner in River Roots and the owner of several Cleveland spots including Mabel’s BBQ, posted a short Instagram video walking viewers through the future venue and wrote, “It’s going to be huge! I can’t wait for you all to see,” as reported by WKYC. Both the coverage and Symon’s post list the address as 1826 Columbus Road and say the space will operate under the name River Roots Barrel Co. Whiskey Bar and Brewery.
Permits Point To Production-First Fitout
Reporting that dug into city permit filings describes the project as a 6,087-square-foot tenant buildout dedicated to liquor bottling and barrel storage with limited on-site sales, with renovations estimated at about $585,000, per Cleveland Magazine. That description indicates the Flats address is set to function mainly as a production and storage hub with a public tasting component instead of a full-service restaurant. The structure itself dates to 1915, a brick building on the Columbus Road peninsula that developers have been eyeing for gradual activation.
From Bespoke Barrels To A Storefront
River Roots began as a bespoke barrel-pick and independent-bottler venture co-founded with partners that include Symon, and the label has expanded by offering single-barrel selections and limited releases, according to earlier coverage in Cleveland Scene. Moving operations into 1826 Columbus Road would establish River Roots’ first visible storefront and a permanent production footprint, a step up from the brand’s earlier storage-focused setup. For Symon, the Flats project extends his Cleveland investments by pairing his restaurant experience with a spirits operation centered on aging and finishing barrels…