WARREN, Ohio – Modern Methods Brewing is moving its Darlene Lounge to a space next to its taproom on David Grohl Alley.
The final night at the lounge’s current location, 145 W. Market St., will be Saturday, Jan. 10. The bar will open at 5 p.m. and will stay open late.
The brewery recently entered a lease agreement with its landlord, Brite/YBI, for its new space. The room can be entered through its own exterior door and also through a wide opening from the taproom.
Modern Methods had been using a small portion of it for small events and extra seating. It now controls the entire room, which has about 2,500 square feet and doubles the size of the brewery’s property.
“We will be able to stretch out and breathe,” said Adam Keck, owner of Modern Methods.
About half of the new area will be used for storage, and the other half will be transformed with a stage and seating area. The bar that is currently in Darlene Lounge will be moved there.
“We’re pasting the old space into the new one,” Keck said. He is not sure when it will be ready to open.
The brewer had been wanting to take over the adjacent room for years.
“That was the [reason] why we opened Darlene Lounge – as a place for private events,” he said. “The lounge proved it will work. We got good at transforming it for any diverse thing we could do.”
The new space will be available to rent for meetings and receptions and also be used as a performance space for theater and live music.
Keck is acquiring a sound system and other equipment to make it always ready for live music or a DJ.
The brewery launched Darlene Lounge two years ago in the room rented from building owners Paul and Holly Clouser. The lounge’s rear entrance is just across Grohl Alley from Modern Methods’ entrance.
Keck and his staff restored and decorated the lounge to give it a barroom vibe. He will be at the Darlene on its final night in his identity as Rockin’ Roach karaoke DJ.
Pictured at top: Adam Keck, owner of Modern Methods Brewing, in the newly acquired space next to the existing taproom.