Magic Bear Beer Cellar will be a craft beer bottle shop and tasting bar in the Larkin Historic District.
The beer cellar seeks to promote the elevation and education of beer and will offer a curated selection of beverages to enjoy at the store or to take to-go. Owner Craig Altobello will also be hosting classes and events including beer tastings, pairings and opportunities to meet brewers. Above all, Magic Bear Beer Cellar will be a welcoming place for all to explore and learn about beer.
Magic Bear Beer Cellar will be located at Millrace Commons, 799 Seneca Street. Larkin Development Group is the developer of Millrace Commons, working with Schneider Architectural Services, Taylor the Builder and The Pike Company on design and construction. Pyramid Brokerage provided assistance with leasing the space.
About The Magic Bear Experience
From teaching beginners about flavors and styles to introducing a new brewery to the devoted beer fan, Magic Bear Beer Cellar looks to enhance the experience of all craft beer drinkers. Non-beer drinkers will find an equally friendly atmosphere, with a selection of wine, ciders, seltzers, meads, and non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy. A small menu of food options ranging from snacks to shareable charcuterie and cheese boards will be on offer.
Altobello is no stranger to hospitality or beer. A Niagara Falls native, he most recently served as the Director of Operations at Top Shelf Management overseeing (716) Food & Sport and The Draft Room in Buffalo, as well as properties in Fort Lauderdale, FL and St. Regis Falls, NY. A former math teacher, Craig put himself through college and spent his summers working in hospitality and eventually transitioned to restaurant management. Since the age of fourteen, he’s worked every position in the restaurant from dishwasher to beverage & bar manager to general manager. He is now combining his passions of teaching and training with his love of craft beer to make Magic Bear Beer Cellar a one-of-a-kind experience.
“One of the most exciting aspects of the hospitality industry in the past 10 years for me has been the recent craft beer boom,” Altobello said. “Trying new styles and learning about brewing and the history of beer is fascinating to me. I believe beer takes a back seat to no beverage and more people should experience and celebrate the fantastic new beer we are seeing as well as the traditional styles that provided their foundation. With Magic Bear Beer Cellar, I am returning to my roots in teaching, combining it with my passion for beer and hospitality to provide a sophisticated yet approachable experience to elevate and educate others on the amazing world of beer.”
“We are so thrilled about the addition of Magic Bear Beer Cellar to our Millrace Commons building and to the growing entrepreneurial retail community in the Larkin District,” said Larkin Development Group’s Kayla Zemsky. “Magic Bear builds on the history of breweries in the Hydraulics District that has existed since the 1800s and adds a new neighborhood beer destination and welcoming hospitality experience for all those living, working and visiting Larkinville.”
About Magic Bear Beer Cellar
Magic Bear Beer Cellar is a craft beer bottle shop and tasting bar in Buffalo, NY. Magic Bear is focused on the education and elevation of craft beer and provides a welcoming atmosphere for all to explore, learn and enjoy.
Learn more at www.magicbearbeer.com and follow along on Facebook and Instagram (@magicbearbeer).
