10 Things Ted Mann Wants You To Know About His Giant Beer Hall

Here at Slope Suds HQ, we’ve been counting the days until the buzzed-about beer garden/ beer hall/ whatever it is going to be at 555 7th Avenue between 19th and 20th streets opens its doors to the public.

To keep other restless natives at bay—and put inaccurate rumors to rest— we snagged an evening interview with bar baron and owner Ted Mann, of , Cubana Social and No Name Bar.

Here, Mann sets the record straight and makes us salivate over his 13,000 square foot space due to open in October.

1. The Official Name is Greenwood Park.

2. Don’t Call It A Beer Garden.  “I feel like we got grouped along with the beer gardens because it’s such an enormous space,” Mann said about his 11th venue. “I visited Bohemian in Queens, the behemoth Studio Square and The Standard Hotel’s beer garden—their version is really cool. But really, the inspiration for this was simple: to have an outdoor space with a great restaurant and bar. Gowanus Yacht Club was actually more like what we had in mind when we started.”

3. Think Less Bavarian More American. “We’re not going to have German-style knockwurst on the menu,” said Mann. “But we will absolutely have classic hot dogs and hamburgers—foods you would bring to a picnic but stepped up a notch.” This includes a veggie burger and vegan options. Items listed on a tentative menu Mann gave to Slope Suds ranged from “Hummus & Grilled Flat Bread” and “Fried Hearts of Palm with Chipotle Mayo”  to “Baby Back Ribs with Sweet ‘n’ Sour Glaze”, “Fish Tacos” and “Fried Chicken & Potato Salad.”  

4. Kids are Welcome, Strollers too! “Big time,” said Mann, welcoming mothers, fathers, kids and strollers. “We definitely plan to be open during the day and moms are encouraged to come by with their children. The outdoor area is gigantic and will be filled with picnic tables. It’s completely stroller friendly.” This is Park Slope after all. 

5. But So Are The Hipsters. “As the sun drops in the sky and the music inside gets louder, we expect a different crowd will start to come in,” Mann said. There will be a theater area where bands from Mann’s first venue, Bar 4, are already scheduled to be playing in the afternoons and evenings. No word yet on whether any will be covering Damn Yankees.

6. You Might Be Inspired To Get Your Tires Checked. What will be Greenwood Park once was a mechanic’s lot. Mann decided to pay homage to the grease monkey roots by retaining some of the original features. “When you walk in, you will absolutely know that you are in a former four-port car shop,” said Mann. “There is a car-lift that has been converted into a seating area and old pulleys for car engines will still be hanging from the ceiling.”

7. Recycling Is An Integral Theme. While the bar won’t be LEED-certified, an “enormous part of the project” has been recycling furniture, old palets from wholesale beverage suppliers and other materials to reuse in the space. Overall, it will have a very industrial feel, Mann said. Look for a 12-foot wall of old palets being constructed in the coming week in place of a typical fence. (“It’s the craziest looking thing.”)

8. Hot Seats Will (Literally) Be Inside and Out. A wood-burning fire pit outdoors and gas-burning faux fireplace inside made from recycled materials, will make a cozy atmosphere for celebratory toasts during the chilly October opening.

9. Oh, Yes, There Will Be Beer! Mann told us there will be 40 drafts on tap. Beverage director Peter Abbruscato provided the following list of 20 different pivos: Kelso Pilsner, Jever Pilsner, Brooklyn Lager, Six Point Brownstone, Old Speckled Hen, Smuttynose I.P.A, Fullers I.P.A., Dogfish Head 90 Minute, I.P.A., Guinness Extra Stout, Captain Lawrence Smoked Porter, Stone Brewing Co.'s Arrogant Bastard Ale, Gaffel Kölsch, Rogue Dead Guy Ale, Ommegang Abbey Ale, Weihenstephan Hefeweizen, Tröegs Pale Ale, Sly Fox Saison VOS, Southhampton Double White, Hofbräu Dunkel, Delirium Tremens. “We also plan to offer a variety of bottles including seasonal lambics, barley wines, doppelbocks, as well as special and limited issue brews,” said Abbbruscato.

10. This Is the Longest Project Mann Has Ever Worked On and He's As Anxious As You Are. “I can’t wait for it to be finished either,” he said.