click to enlarge Doug Trattner

Don Trivisonno (left) and Cathy Zalocki

click to enlarge Doug Trattner

click to enlarge Doug Trattner

When it opens this fall in Cleveland Heights, Voodoo Brewery will offer a unique twist to the local beer brewing scene. Despite the moniker, the business actually will not brew any beer, but instead will function as a satellite taproom for the Meadville, Pennsylvania-based brewery of the same name. The locally owned franchise will be operated by partners Don Trivisonno and Cathy Zalocki.“We discussed opening a brewery and eventually said, why reinvent the wheel,” Trivisonno explains. “I’m a beer nerd, I’ve brewed for some years, and I ran a couple different retail and restaurant beer programs. I know just from myself and my friends the amount of people who travel out to get their beers, so it makes sense to bring it to them right in their own neighborhood.”Since launching in 2005, Voodoo has added Pennsylvania locations in Erie, Homestead, Grove City, Lancaster and State College. The franchise arm of the business is new, with upcoming pubs in Washington, D.C. and Cleveland Heights being early adopters. Each is unique in look, feel and location, but all are bound together by the diverse but consistent roster of ales and lagers brewed at the production facility in Western PA.“The model is all about controlling the product in the absolute best way at our brewery back home,” says Jake Voelker, chief operating officer. “I can’t tell you the amount of people who have been asking us over the years to do something here. I’m a little bit of a data nerd, and if you pull customer data from our Meadville and Erie pubs to see where they’re coming from, I can tell that we have a loyal following here already.”Those folks invariably are fans of the brewery’s higher-ABV offerings like Good Vibes IPA, Quadfather Belgian quadrupel and Cowbell double chocolate imperial stout. Those core beers and about a dozen others will be on tap at the new Cleveland Height location. Formerly home to Bill’s Dry Cleaning, the 3,000-square-foot double storefront (2279 Lee Rd.) has been gutted to the original shell, a wall separating the two spaces has been removed and a beam has been added to open up the entire space. A new kitchen and restrooms are being installed.In addition to the house beer, Voodoo will offer wine, cider, cocktails and pub grub like pretzels, pizzas and tacos. A small patio will be added out back.Look for Voodoo Brewery to open in the next few months.