ASHLAND — Drinks were flowing and customers were smiling Wednesday as The Taproom on Main invited friends and family in for a trial run.
The business opens to the public Thursday with a 4 p.m. ribbon cutting and a grand opening 4 to 10 p.m.
Located at 47 E. Main St. in downtown Ashland, the taproom occupies the former Happy Grape location.
Business owners Jane Kiplinger, Deanna Ragozzine and Toni Villers were pleasantly surprised Wednesday, both by the large turnout and by the drink sales. Several guests ordered flights to taste a few different craft beers, while others sampled from the prohibition era cocktail menu.
Local brewer Don Welch stayed busy serving up his own Veteran Brewhouse beers as well as other local brews.
Though the taproom will not serve food, a rotating lineup of food trucks will park outside and customers may bring in food from the food trucks or elsewhere to enjoy with their drinks. Guac and Roll of Perrysville will be the food truck at the grand opening.
The three business partners said they’re excited to have seized an opportunity to do something fun downtown and to join the growing craft beer scene.
“It’s great to be part of something cool that’s trendy. It’s very popular right now,” Ragozzine said.
Villers said while she is not much of a beer drinker herself, she knows how much craft beers appeal to people like her husband.
The taproom also serves a rotating lineup of red and white sangria, as well as Ohio wines and mixed drinks made with liquor from Ohio distilleries, so the owners hope there’s something for everyone.
“More than anything, it’s to create a place and an atmosphere where people are comfortable and enjoy going in and relaxing,” Villers said.
Chris Kempf, a family friend of the Villers, said while he has lived in Ashland about two years, he had only been downtown once before Wednesday. It takes things like the taproom to bring people downtown, he said.
“I think it’s cool that they’re basically revitalizing the Main Street area,” he said.
