World of Beer Coming to Belmar

World of Beer, a Florida-based chain of bars, opens this summer in Belmar, according to the happenings page of Continuum's Belmar website.

No other information is provided, but a quick look through Google Image gives the basic outline: 50 beers on tap, flat panel TVs, live music, female bartenders in sleeveless tank tops. Plus a long row of refrigerator cases lined with bottled beer. It's unclear if WOB (the abbreviation seems unavoidable) serves food or not.

Either way, it seems solidly middle-brow, and will probably do well in Belmar, creating middle-brow synergy with The Rock pizzeria and Baker Street Pub & Grill.

Continuum hasn't made public which location WOB is slated for, but other WOBs appear to be in the 3000 sq. foot range, so that doesn't leave too many options, unless there are plans for new construction. Perhaps the space under Whole Foods and across the corner from The Rock and Nordstrom Rack? Or the spot between Ohio Broadcasting and Baker Street?

Construction Underway on KB Paired Homes in BelMar

KB is moving relatively fast with their development of Block 9 at BelMar. The two model homes are finished, and two more paired homes (4 units) have roofs and windows. Sidewalks and utilities are in, along with some of the common landscaping.

Paciugo Gelato & Caffe

The windows are in at Paciugo Gelato & Caffe, along with cafe tables and upscale glass tile. The general contractor tells me the store will be opening as soon as a glass display case arrives from Italy (it's currently at sea).

Peeking through the windows, the general feel is upscale and classy-- and I love the garage-style door in the front! I can imagine the buzz this will create in the summer, when the neighborhood craves frozen treats. The stylish interior of Paciugo is also a far cry from the sickly green and strawberry crush interior of the Belmar Zinga!, which begs you to run, run away.

No, this new Paciugo looks like exactly the kind of ice cream shop Belmar needs. Or at least, it looks like the next best thing to getting a Liks or a Sweet Action (I'm a realist; I know the rents are too high in Belmar for a local shop ice cream shop to make it). Paciugo itself is a national chain with 38 locations, and its other locations have pretty good reviews on Yelp.

I don't have any information on why the Belmar Ben & Jerry's closed (it seemed to do a brisk business), but if the gelato is any good, Paciugo will do well.

Working With Artists Plans Eventual Move From Belmar

It looks like Working With Artists, the Belmar non-profit that offers classes in photography, is going to follow The Lab and move to a new location.

The Lab, as you may recall, moved from Belmar after merging with the Denver Musuem of Contemporary Art.

Now Working With Artists, which merged last year with the Colorado Photographic Arts Center, is looking for "new digs."

The details are buried midway through this DU Today blog post, but it looks like another disappointing loss for the Belmar's art scene and the Block 7 studios.

Ice Sculptures on the Plaza

Walgreens to Replace Office Tower at Wadsworth and Alameda

The city of Lakewood looks set to approve a redevelopment plan for the northeast corner of Wadsworth and Alameda. The plan would involve tearing down the current office tower and replacing it with a Walgreens. The site would also accommodate two other smaller buildings for potential further future development.

Of course, this isn't the first redevelopment plan for this corner. Until demolition/construction begins, I wouldn't hold my breath.

Christmas Lights in the Plaza