Woodburn Taproom

The thing about bartending in a neighborhood for a period of time is you actually become ingrained in the fabric of it. You get to know other business owners, community leaders, residents. You didn’t ask for it, but you are now a key holder to something much greater. When one opportunity closes, it’s best to try to stay within that neighborhood not only for your own finances and client retention, but also its just easier than starting a new. When the Woodburn Brewery in East Walnut Hills was set to reopen, I leaped at the chance to stay and help grow the F&B scene. Across the street from Branch & Nightdrop, I walked. Newly acquired Woodburn was almost turnkey. The new ownership group added a garden parcel of land behind, and took out the brewery part (all brewing was centralized at another location) to add in a kitchen and private event space. In addition to getting operations going, our goal was to create a lively safe space for groups of all types to hang out, play, watch and enjoy. We introduced a full kitchen featuring elevated pub comfort food which doubled our sales volume. The addition of a stage allowed for live music on the weekends and movies during the summer. Woodburn grew to a point where it could spearhead street festivals, popup theater performances, and be a bit of a town hall for community leaders. As General Manager of the brewery taproom, my focus was on transforming it from simply a place to grab a beer into a true neighborhood gathering place, creating an experience that brought people together for more than just the beer. From community fundraisers and street festivals to outdoor movie nights, live music events, and packed watch parties for every kind of “sports ball,” the taproom became a hub where locals could celebrate, connect, and feel at home. It was a role that blended hospitality, operations, community engagement, and event programming, proving that the best venues aren’t just businesses; they’re places people build memories.