Zaftig Brewing Co., a Worthington operation for the last four years, is bringing a second location to Italian Village. They’re one of the first tenants announced for the Beeker building at 115 E. Fifth Ave., along with DiCarlo’s Pizza.
Zaftig is known for their big, heavy, high ABV beers. They just released a raspberry chocolate stout this week, and re-released their popular Nuts For You peanut butter stout. For their new space, owner Jim Gokenbach says he’d like to get out of their comfort zone and try more traditional or lighter beers “to cater to some more of the demographic there in Italian Village.”
They’ve got about 4,000 square feet (and a 700 square foot patio) to work with at their new spot, enough room for a five barrel system they’ll use to brew some taproom exclusive beers. But, Gokenbach says about 70 percent of the products offered in Italian Village will come from their facility in Worthington.
Zaftig Worthington partners with food trucks to bring dining options to their guests, but in Italian Village they’ll have a kitchen of their own. Although nothing is set in stone, Gokenbach is currently in conversations with Josh DiBari of Sunnyside Tacos, who may head up the restaurant. Gokenbach says there will be tacos along with revamped versions of traditional pub fare.
Gokenbach says the search for a second location started in the summer, and the goal was to be more centrally located, either Downtown or Olde Towne East. When the spot at the Beeker building opened up, they grabbed at the opportunity.
“It’s probably the best case scenario. We’re going into a pretty unique space, we’ll have 89 apartments above us,” Gokenbach says. “And then there’s 20 or 30 brand new units right behind us already occupied.”
Gokenbach says the Italian Village location is going for an industrial look with an intense focus on art. He says it’ll look vastly different than their spot in Worthington, and “different than anything else that’s down there or really anything in town,” though the details have yet to come together.
Zaftig Italian Village will be under renovations for that first quarter of 2019. Gokenbach expects an opening in late spring or summer.
For more information, visit their Facebook page.