Brew pub, 2 restaurants part of planned $15M Lebanon development

A brew pub with a streetside beer garden and two popular restaurants have signed letters of intent to open new locations in a proposed$15 million development in downtown Lebanon.

RELATED: Butler County cafe voted most charming in Ohio

Cozy’s Café & Pub in Liberty Twp., Butler County, and Two Cities Pizza in Mason, Warren County, as well as the Casual Pint, a Knoxville-based chain with locations in Mason, Loveland and the Oakley neighborhood of Cincinnati would be part of the Lebanon development, according to letters included in a proposal presented to Lebanon City Council.

RELATED: Casual Pint signs lease for Hamilton location

Two Cities co-founder Sean Spurlock said a location proposed in a CMC development in Hamilton, the Marcum, hadn’t fit the company’s expansion plans.

“While that location did not work out for us, we are very interested in the prospect of locating to the proposed development area in Lebanon,” Spurlock said in a letter to developer James Cohen.

RELATED: Lebanon developer wants amphitheater on school lawn for $15 million development

Jan Collins, Cozy’s proprietor wrote, “From what we have seen thus far, the City of Lebanon project is the one.”

The local school board and city council met earlier this week to discuss the plan, also including a veteran’s memorial along Broadway in downtown Lebanon.

Cohen is also seeking a sales tax exemption through the Warren County Port Authority and forgiveness of property taxes for 15 years, as well as other subsidies.

MORE: Port authority subsidies key to rescuing industrial park from bankruptcy

City Manager Scott Brunka was directed by the council to begin final negotiations with Cohen on the development also expected to include town homes and apartments.

About the Author