earnest brew works to Operate The Wheelhouse
Metroparks Toledo has selected earnest brew works to operate The Wheelhouse Coffee and Tap Room at the Beach Ridge area of Oak Openings Preserve. It is the latest example of a concessionaire providing services to enhance visitors’ experience in the Metroparks.
Earnest plans to open The Wheelhouse in the spring with a taproom pouring up to a dozen of its craft beers, a coffee shop, food and merchandise to serve bicyclists, guests of the Treehouse Village and other visitors at the region’s largest Metropark. The company will contract with Wild Roots Coffee to provide coffee and food management services.
“earnest brew works is looking forward to pouring great beers and quality coffee at the Wheelhouse,” said Scot Yarnell, brewer/owner. “I am so looking forward to pouring and enjoying an earnest beer at the Wheelhouse” and “being part of the Metroparks community.”
“I’m thrilled to have Wild Roots Coffee teaming up with earnest brew works to bring new energy to the Wheelhouse,” added Jill Lipinski, owner of Wild Roots Coffee, who previously worked at The Wheelhouse. “Having lived here my whole life, the Metroparks have always been a cherished place for me—an invaluable resource for outdoor recreation and a true connection to nature.”
Earnest has been part of the craft beer community since 2016, when it opened its original brewery and taproom in S. Toledo. It also has taprooms in Westgate and the Warehouse District downtown.
The Wheelhouse is part of the Beach Ridge Area, 3520 Waterville-Swanton Road (SR 64), Swanton, where the Cannaley Treehouse Village opened in 2020. Beach Ridge is also a trailhead for the 12-mile-long Beach Ridge Singletrack mountain bike trail; FitPark: Ride, a mountain bike skills course; and a new playground.
Metroparks entered into an agreement with a concessionaire to operate The Wheelhouse as a brewery and coffee house starting in spring 2022. The casual gathering place quickly became a popular destination and helped increase visitation to the Beach Ridge Area from 8,000 to nearly 46,000 annually in just two years. That company ceased operations December 16, and the search for a new operator began immediately, with several local companies submitting proposals.
“Earnest has a successful track record in business and has connections with the local bicycling community, which is important to us,” said Mike Keedy, Metroparks chief engagement and enterprise officer.
“The company’s plans for engaging with visitors through events and programs will complement the many features at the park, while having food and beverages available will help make a visit to Oak Openings even more enjoyable, Keedy added.”
Concessionaires Add
to Visitor Experience
Metroparks also has concessionaire agreements with Poco Piatti to operate The Garden by Poco Piatti and Rink Management Services to operate The Ribbon, both at Glass City Metropark in East Toledo. Across the Maumee River, another concessionaire, Toledo Pickle Co. opened in January a family entertainment complex and restaurant in a Metroparks-owned building as part of the developing Glass City Riverwalk in Toledo’s Vistula neighborhood.
“Our expertise is preserving natural areas and hosting innovative programming to immerse people in nature,” said Dave Zenk, executive director of Metroparks Toledo. “Through agreements like these, we partner with businesses to provide additional amenities for our visitors and enhance their experience.”
Concessionaires independently manage their businesses, including capital improvements, daily operations and maintenance, while Metroparks earns a percentage of gross sales, which is reinvested into the maintenance and improvements of the Metroparks, Keedy said.