I haven’t explored Grove City much in the past, but that changed when my dad moved to the area. I’ve discovered that Grove City has a lot of hidden gems, and I’ve been making an effort to explore more. Recently, my husband and I were house sitting for my dad, and we decided to visit one of the local breweries – Grove City Brewing Co. Even though I’m not a beer drinker, I love the atmosphere of breweries, and I was excited to check it out. I had heard that the brewery was somehow connected to a winery, but I wasn’t sure if it would be open on a Sunday. Fingers crossed, we headed over for a perfect Sunday Funday.
"Grove City Brewing’s story begins with Plum Run Winery, opened by the Crosbys three years ago in the same building where the brewery is being built. Dave Crosby knew wines and ciders, but not beer. A mutual friend connected Crosby to Luther, an experienced home brewer who also was working at Buckeye Lake Brewery. Crosby and Burroughs work together on the Grove City Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. She and Smolinski, her husband, own Hocking Hills Canopy Tours. Mantkowski, a friend, joined the group, too." - Dan Eaton, Biz Journals
Upon entering through the back entrance, which was not the main entrance, we arrived at the front bar where we were warmly welcomed by the staff. They patiently explained their offerings, which were plentiful and diverse. Although there were numerous options, I didn’t feel intimidated or overwhelmed. The TV screens on the wall display the beers on tap, including their signature beers and selections from other local breweries.
As Stephen was perusing the beer options, I took a look at the menu to decide on some food. To my surprise, Stephen had already decided on what we were getting – the mozzarella-stuffed breadsticks, which we affectionately referred to as “BOSCO STICKS” due to their resemblance to a childhood favorite.
As a wine lover, my focus immediately shifted to exploring the history of the Plum Run Winery before I indulged in some wine tasting. It’s always exciting to learn about the background of a new place, and it’s something I make sure to do before visiting. Understanding the story behind a business, especially one where people are following their dreams and pursuing their passions, is always inspiring to me. I want to know what motivates them, what their aspirations are, and how they go about achieving them. Simply scratching the surface with small talk is not enough for me – I want to dive deeper. So, after reading about the winery’s history, I was ready to explore and experience everything Plum Run had to offer.
Anyways, back on track. The story behind Plum Winery and the owners, Dave and Diane Crosby, is a fun one. An inspiring one.
"Plum Run Vineyard and Winery is named from the small stream of the same name that originates on our farm south of Grove City, Ohio. Our Vineyard consists of three acres of grapes that include Traminette, Vidal, Chambourcin and Cabernet Franc. A total of 16 varieties of grapes are planted on the farm. Grapes from Plum Run Vineyard as well as grapes sourced from other Ohio vineyards are used to craft a variety of fine wines for your purchase."
They tell their story much better than I would – you an read it here. They weren’t in when we were there, but, I would love to go back and chat with them. Maybe visit their winery and share stories about our failures at making wine at home.
Once we finished our wine flight, we ventured out to the patio to enjoy the great weather and order more food. However, before we could dive into the menu, I had to pick out a board game. To my surprise, they had a great selection of games to choose from!
As we sat on the patio and played our board game, we couldn’t resist ordering more food. The Broadway burger caught our eye with its tempting toppings, including the irresistible bacon jam. Of course, we couldn’t pass up on a side of fries to go with it.
I must admit that I do have one negative comment to make – why isn’t this place closer to our home? (laughs) Jokes apart, this has become one of my favorite spots. The ambiance, the enthusiasm, the staff, the beer, the wine, the patios, the customers – everything was just perfect. If we didn’t have to rush back to our three adorable puppies, I would have loved to spend the entire afternoon there.
Plum Winery + Grove City Brewing Company
3946 Broadway Grove City, Ohio 43123
They are located in the heart of the Grove City Ohio Town Center at the corner of Broadway (Rt. 62 and 3) and Columbus Street. Parking can be found onsite (Columbus Street side) or across the street in City Public Parking.
