The 90-year-old Grandview Theater was all but gone late last year when the Studio 35 team of Eric Brembeck, Rita Volpi and Andy Wuefling stepped up to resuscitate the iconic theater, a fixture in Grandview Heights since 1925. After months and massive renovations, the Grandview came back to life in May.
With its total facelift completed, past patrons would not recognize the new theater. Aside from the “Grandview” mosaic tile floor at the entry, little remains of the old theater. Once you step over that eponymous entry tile, you’ll find a long L-shaped bar and several table and chair sets. Behind the tables are glass doors that are thrown open when weather allows, revealing a small patio that seats another dozen or so patrons. After passing between the bar and the poster covered walls on the left, you enter the new theater. With only 150 seats, the theater is smuch more comfortable and homey than the multiplex theaters to which most of us have become so accustomed. Equipped with a new screen, stage and state-of-the-art sound and projection system, this is a place you can really sit back and enjoy a movie while you munch on a pizza and sip on a fine craft beer.
The theater has been reborn in the image of Studio 35: part movie theater, part craft beer bar. With 40 taps of all craft beer, Wuefling routinely assembles a stellar line-up of diverse and interesting brews. If you have not yet discovered the wonders of fine craft beer, rest assured that there is a full cocktail list available, and wines as well. Hungry? There’s popcorn, soft pretzels and nachos, or you can order a pizza delivered from nearby Panzera’s.
If you love Studio 35, you will love the Grandview Theater. All the familiar parts are in place, plus a couple of new twists. The familiar includes one of my favorites, the monthly beer tasting events. Once a month on a Sunday afternoon, you can taste ten interesting beers, laugh at jokes and ‘funny stuff’, have a crack at winning one of the many door prizes, and then watch the featured movie. The ‘funny stuff” shown between beers and door prizes includes short movie clips and skits from Buzzfeed, Funny or Die, SNL and the like.
“People forget that beer tastings are supposed to be fun, but we’re making them fun again,” said Wuefling.
Grandview Theater’s next beer tastings is Sunday, December 10 featuring ten Christmas beers and Christmas Vacation. Tickets are $30 and available online. Andy also gave me a preview of what’s planned for the February event. It will be “Peewee’s Big Adventure” paired with New Belgium beers and a pimped-out “Peewee-style” bike.
The Grandview Theater also follows the Studio 35 tradition of a number of free showings on the big screen including OSU football. On Sunday nights, you can even watch all the blood and gore of “The Walking Dead” in vivid, big screen color while quaffing a Three Floyd’s Zombie Dust Pale Ale. If that strikes you as a little too intense, kick back with the “Saturday Afternoon Social Club” between 3 and 6 for live music in the bar.
The Grandview Theater and Drafthouse is located at 1247 Grandview Ave. Happy Hour is 3:30 – 6; Monday through Friday. Check out their website for movie times and other events — grandviewtheater.com.
