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The former World of Beer location on Detroit Avenue in Lakewood should reopen in a few months as The Detroiter restaurant and bar.

(Bruce Geiselman, NEOMG)

LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- The Detroiter, a new restaurant and bar, soon will move into the former World of Beer Lakewood storefront at 14701 Detroit Ave.

Longtime Lakewood resident Michael Kozar plans to open this summer in the space that has sat vacant since World of Beer closed in December. Kozar, a partner in the Taqueria Junction restaurant in Olmsted Falls, had been looking for a suitable location for a new restaurant for about two years.

"Lakewood is trending," Kozar said. "It's a good location. I live in Lakewood and I want to support the community."

If he can get city approvals in time, Kozar wants to open the new restaurant June 1.

Unlike the former World of Beer, The Detroiter will have a kitchen serving lunch and dinner. The restaurant has the same name -- but a different location -- than an old diner in town.

"The food will be inspired comfort food -- homemade soup and stews, meatloaf and fried chicken," Kozar said.

Installing a kitchen will be the biggest investment. The World of Beer, which opened in 2013, left a modern, up-to-date building. However, it did not have a kitchen, instead allowing customers to bring in their own food.

In addition to its regular menu, Kozar will invite customers to submit their own recipes, especially those passed down through generations. Each month, the restaurant will feature a selection of customer-submitted menu items, like Grandma Jones' chicken paprikash. The menu will credit the family submitting the recipe.

The goal is to make customers feel like they are part of the restaurant, Kozar said.

The Detroiter will have 25 draft beers and several flavors of margaritas on tap. In addition, the restaurant will make use of the former World of Beer walk-in cooler to stock a variety of local craft beers.

The interior will be redecorated with fresh paint, new fabric and leather coverings for benches, and new tables and chairs. The restaurant will seat about 130. A small outdoor patio can seat can seat about a dozen. Hinged glass windows on the front of the building can open in summer.

Kozar also plans to install a music system that will allow customers to request songs without having to pay for the music. About eight TVs will carry Indians, Cavaliers and Browns games.

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