After more than four decades of slinging pies from the same modest storefront, LaRosa's Pizzeria in Mount Washington is shutting the doors at its longtime spot and heading a little farther out Beechmont Avenue. The neighborhood staple is moving into the Big Ash Brewing space and will relaunch as LaRosa's Taphouse, swapping a tight pickup-and-delivery setup for a full-on beer-hall vibe built for families, big groups and live music nights.
According to WLWT, the current Mount Washington restaurant at 2111 Beechmont Ave will shift operations to 5230 Beechmont Ave, Big Ash's home turf. The new taphouse is expected to be more than twice the size of the existing location, with a traditional dining room, a beer hall that seats about 100 people and an outdoor patio with room for more than 200.
Nick Fucito, the Mount Washington franchise owner, told WLWT, “This new Taphouse is all about giving our guests more of what they already love,” and emphasized how long the shop has been part of the neighborhood, saying, “We’ve served Mount Washington for more than four decades.”
Big Ash Stays In The Picture
Big Ash is not getting kicked off its own turf in the process. The brewery's website touts its pour-your-own tap system, regular live events and its Skytop Pavilion address at 5230 Beechmont Ave, and Big Ash says it will remain open during renovations. That setup keeps Big Ash beer flowing on draft even as LaRosa's expands the building's kitchen and seating areas to make room for the taphouse concept. Big Ash Brewing lists the Beechmont location along with details about the self-pour tap system.
What The Taphouse Will Offer
Industry coverage says guests will still get the full LaRosa's menu but with some new toys attached. The LaRosa's Taphouse is expected to include a drive-up window, delivery service, an enclosed four-season patio and a self-serve tap wall pouring Big Ash beers, wine and hard seltzers. PizzaMarketplace reported those features and noted that the larger footprint is designed to make room for families, dogs and larger gatherings.
Part Of A Local Taproom Trend
The move lines up with a broader Cincinnati playbook that pairs familiar food brands with beer-centric taprooms and more of an "experience" than a quick meal. Skyline Chili's planned Fountain Square taproom is one of the higher-profile examples in that lane. CityBeat covered Skyline's downtown taproom plans as part of the same wave of experiential dining concepts popping up around the city.
Early reports do not quite agree on when LaRosa's will cut the ribbon on its new digs. Trade coverage sets a February opening target, according to PizzaMarketplace, while Local12's coverage of the neighborhood move says the Mount Washington location will close and the new taphouse concept will open in mid-March. For the final word, the companies' official channels are still the safest bet.
For now, LaRosa's location pages continue to list the Mount Washington store at 2111 Beechmont Ave as the active site, and hiring activity suggests the transition is well underway. LaRosa's still shows the existing Mount Washington listing, while job postings on Indeed are advertising bartender and taproom roles tied to the LaRosa's Taphouse at the Beechmont address.
