Lakewood is about to get a different kind of sports bar this summer. Speed Trap Racing is set to open in early June in the former Melt Bar & Grilled space on Detroit Avenue, pairing full-motion racing cockpits with a full bar and a pub-style menu.
Owner Andrew Almenar has been quietly working on 14718 Detroit Ave. since January and told local reporters the venue, billed as the region’s first dedicated racing-simulator center, is aiming for a soft opening in the first week of June. The whole operation leans on technology built for pro drivers in nearby Akron, according to Cleveland Scene.
Pro-level rigs
The cockpits are designed to mimic real-world driving forces with motion actuators, tactile shakers and dedicated G-seat hardware. They are the same style of systems produced by SimXperience in Akron, with retailer product pages detailing G-seats and SimVibe tactile suites that press into the driver’s back, tighten harnesses and work with seat shakers to create the feel of sustained G-loads, as described by Ricmotech.
What it feels like and what’s on the menu
Almenar told Cleveland Scene, “This is not an arcade.” Drivers will hear RPMs rise, pit-crew chatter and crowd noise in their headphones, while four cockpit rigs and TV-fed views turn the room into a spot where watching can be almost as entertaining as driving.
The barroom keeps much of the former layout and will serve pub-friendly plates with a racing twist, including a Pace Car Platter, a Pole Position smash burger and a Daytona 500 sandwich developed with Kenny Kuhn of the Swinging Door.
Bookings and the public debut
The venue’s own website is live but sparse so far, with its pricing and “How It Works” pages currently carrying a “Content coming soon” note that hints early signups may be handled in person. The brand’s Linktree directs visitors to social channels and a forthcoming signup flow, according to Speed Trap Racing…