In Cleveland, Ohio, the Forest City Brewery has recently taken a firm stance on its crowd control policy, explicitly banning children under 16 from its premises. This rule change comes from ongoing issues with "irresponsible parents," according to Jay Demagall, the brewery's founder and general manager. Despite eight years of efforts to maintain a family-friendly environment under the condition that a guardian must accompany children, the establishment has decided to pivot strictly to adult patronage due to continued problems posing risks to their business, reports FOX8.
As per an announcement made last Saturday on Facebook, the decision has garnered a mixed response from the community. While some patrons and residents have lauded the move, echoing sentiments that breweries are not suitable environments for children, others express disappointment, lamenting that the actions of a few have curtailed their family-friendly visits to Forest City. "I'm sad that bad parents have ruined it for the rest of us. It makes sense, I guess, but disappointed nonetheless. Much harder to stop in now, having to have everything pre-planned," a Facebook user conveyed the sentiment in a comment cited by ABC6.
Demagall emphasized that the establishment's primary focus is to "serve great beer, food and other alcoholic beverages to ADULTS," and that children were "never a part of our business plan or our vibe," as quoted by WKYC. This sentiment further justifies the brewery's move to adjust its customer base in accordance with its original business model and to ensure the comfort and safety of its clientele.
Meanwhile, just blocks away from Forest City, Market Garden Brewery presents a contrasting business model. They maintain a more inclusive environment, with family-friendly menus, and haven't witnessed significant issues with younger guests. Heather Masarik, assistant manager at Market Garden Brewery, explained to WKYC that the establishment sees little problem with "the younger kids," noting that issues, when they arise, tend to involve older teenagers. Masarik emphasized, "The younger kids really have no problem — they're out here playing Jenga." Such divergent approaches between two nearby breweries underscore the variability of family-friendly policies within the industry, reflecting different brand strategies and customer experiences.
