Non-Alcoholic Bar Trend Catches on in Cleveland with Verbena

Hingetown will soon have a hip, new and completely non-alcoholic hangout, when Verbena opens this summer.

“People are craving alternatives to alcohol, whether they want to drink less, less often, or not at all,” says owner Molly  Cheraso in a news release. “Verbena invites everyone to the celebration, creating an environment and menu that is just as thoughtfully constructed as any craft cocktail. We couldn’t be more thrilled to find our first permanent home and join this continued renaissance of the greater Ohio City neighborhood.”

Before its brick-and-mortar space at 1434 West 29th Street (the former Cleveland Tea Revival storefront), Verbena operated as a non-alcoholic beverage pop-up in town.

Business in the mocktail and non-alcoholic beverage sector is strong; according to NielsenIQ data, United States customers spent $395 million on these types of beverages between Aug. 2021 and Aug. 2022. Those numbers have grown steadily every year, as younger drinkers have become less interested in alcoholic beverages than previous generations.

At Verbena, a menu of curated NA spirits, including brands like Prima Pave, Ghia, Three Spirit, Ritual, Athletic Brewing Co. and Lyres, will be sold by the bottle, and will also be used to carefully construct a menu of mocktails. The menu will include flavorful concoctions like a spicy watermelon margarita, a "midnights martini" and a Wilfred's spritz, according to a news release.

Beyond the mocktails, Verbena will also offer a menu that Cleveland Tea Revival customers will already be familiar with. It plans to continue offering Cleveland Tea Revival tea blends and some of the former restaurant's dishes like rice bowls, salads, soups and pastries, a news release states. New bites will include cheese boards and tin fish plates.

Verbena is slated to open at the end of May or early June. Find more information about the concept at verbenafreespirited.com.

READ MORE:

4 Mocktails to Try at Verbena, Cleveland's New Non-Alcoholic Bar

First Look: Non-Alcoholic Bar Verbena Opening Soon in Cleveland

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