Today we’d like to introduce you to Luke Purcell.
Hi Luke, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Located on the banks of the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland’s Flats District, Collision Bend Brewery opened in April of 2017 and is housed in the newly renovated Hausheer Building on Old River Road. Built-in 1863, the site first served as a chandlery, where Civil War-era merchant ships stockpiled supplies before setting sail onto the Great Lakes.
We came up with the name, Collision Bend Brewing Company, for the narrow and crooked passages along the Cuyahoga River navigated by large commercial ships. Across an expansive, waterfront patio, guests can watch iron-ore freighters carefully inch themselves around the infamous Collision Bend – a U-shaped turn in the Cuyahoga that has tested ship captains for more than a century and sparked citywide debates about redirecting the river.
Collision Bend Brewery is an artisanal brewery and full-service restaurant. The tap list features crisp, bright beers brewed on-site, served alongside a menu inspired by Cleveland’s melting pot for a unique dining and social experience.
We celebrate the crooked river and its large vessel passengers today as a toast to our city’s past and the progress that Cleveland has through its industrial roots. Come see this feat of skill yourself while enjoying a cold hand-crafted beverage and tantalizing small plates at Collision Bend Brewing Company.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Fortunately, since opening almost six years ago, Collision has continued to see growth with each passing year. We are extremely grateful to have an amazing staff that continues to show up, day in and day out, putting endless amounts of effort to serve our guests the food and beers that they love. And our guests are truly awesome, whether they are here for our beers and food, for the scenic views or to host an event, we are honored to serve everyone who has walked through our doors.
If there has been any struggle, we would have to say dealing with the seasonality of Cleveland and our location on the river. While we understand the ups and downs of Cleveland’s seasons, we work hard to stay relevant in the coldest months of the year, as the river is frozen over. We continue to host fun events, weekly live music, and brew some of our favorite seasonal beers. Most people think of Collision in the spring, summer, and fall, but winter is still a great time to come down to the brewery!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Collision Bend Brewing Company?
As for what we are proud of- We are extremely proud of our growth over the last six years. We have become known for more than just our patio and beers, but for our beautiful event space. We have hosted hundreds of private parties, showers, weddings, and more each year. We have also recently partnered with a distributor, Beverage, to service Northern Ohio locations and are in the beginning stages of building a new production facility in Euclid as we continue to expand our beer production.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
We have learned that the restaurant business models in general are fragile and run on tight margins.
We learned how to become more flexible and adapt. We wouldn’t have been able to survive without our staff who showed up every day, put in hard work, showed patience, and adapted over the last few years as we found our way through the Covid Crisis.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.collisionbendbrewery.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collisionbrew/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/collisionbrew
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/collision-bend-brewing-company-cleveland
Image Credits
Headshot photographed by Matt Wellumson
