SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio -- The city has received a petition to permit an Outdoor Refreshment Area in the Van Aken District, allowing patrons to move about freely in designated areas with alcoholic drinks in hand.
The permit also would have to be approved by the Ohio Liquor Control Board, which has already granted at least five “ORA” designations in smaller cities in Ohio.
These include most recently Lyndhurst, where Legacy Village now uses it for special events, along with Lorain near the Black River, Canton around the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as well as Middletown and Worthington.
“Upon creation, an Outdoor Refreshment Area allows bar and restaurant patrons to legally walk around a designated area with an alcoholic beverage that has been served by a liquor permit-holding establishment,” Van Aken District General Neighborhood Manager Jason Russell told council Monday (May 13).
There are currently eight permit holders proposed in the Van Aken District, with three already active: Brassica, Craft Collective and Michael’s Genuine. Two more applications are pending for Banter and Nature’s Oasis.
Three more are still “to be determined,” although Jonathon Sawyer’s new restaurant could be open by late summer, Russell said.
A yet-to-be announced cocktail bar will be moving into the second floor of the free-standing "B-1" building with Sawyer's on Farnsleigh Road, and Manifest beauty lounge on Tuttle Road also plans to serve drinks, Russell added.
The general hours for the proposed Outdoor Refreshment Area would be from 4 p.m. to midnight Mondays through Thursdays, noon to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 10 p.m. on Sundays, with the season running from April 1 to Oct. 31.
After those hours, patrons would have to remain in the establishments where they bought the beverages, although they could still take them out on the individual patios.
The proposed ORA boundaries would include the park the city leases from developer RMS, as well as any other Van Aken District retailers who don’t object, although the offices and the parking garage would be off-limits, as would be denoted by at least 11 signs.
The proposed Outdoor Refreshment Area in the Van Aken District would feature an official cup with a surcharge to go in part toward covering the costs of additional security and enforcement -- as well as more cups. (Tom Jewell, special to cleveland.com)Tom Jewell/Special to cleveland.com
Much of council’s discussion at Monday’s work session involved the compostable or recyclable cups -- no larger than 16 ounces -- that would be provided by RMS for an additional $1 charge per cup.
That surcharge would cover any additional costs of running the ORA, including added security, monitoring of exit points and preparing the discarded cups for composting or recycling. Russell said there may be separate disposal containers.
The proposed rules state that patrons are not allowed to go inside another establishment with a cup poured elsewhere, and no one can bring in their own beer, wine or liquor from outside the district.
The request will be introduced on first reading at Shaker council’s May 28 meeting (the Tuesday after Memorial Day), followed by public notices, then a public hearing coinciding with the second reading on June 24, with third reading and consideration of final approval on July 8.
If approved by the state, the city would also be able to extend hours for special events, with Russell noting that the goal remains to “enhance the customer experience” and continue to make the Van Aken District an entertainment and cultural destination.
City officials earlier pointed to the success of the “Van Aken Beer Garden” events that drew crowds for several years while the $100 million development and road reconfiguration was under construction.
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