LaRosa's Taphouse and Big Ash Brewing Open Collaborative Cincinnati Taproom

Nine days after the Mount Washington LaRosa's served its last slice, franchise owner Nick Fucito opened the doors on something considerably larger a mile down Beechmont Avenue.

LaRosa's Taphouse launched March 10 inside the existing Big Ash Brewing space at 5230 Beechmont Ave. in Anderson Township's Skytop Pavilion, combining one of Cincinnati's most recognized pizza brands with an East Side neighborhood brewery under a single roof. The move came after LaRosa's purchased the building Big Ash operates from in the spring of 2025.

Fucito, who operates five LaRosa's franchise locations, relocated his Mount Washington unit after outgrowing the space at 2111 Beechmont Ave., where it had operated for more than four decades. That location closed after a final service on March 1. The new taphouse is more than double its size, featuring a full dining room and beer hall with seating for 100, a four-season enclosed dog-friendly patio reported to seat over 200, and an outdoor beer garden with a dedicated live music area.

The operational structure keeps each brand in its lane. LaRosa's runs the food side, offering its full menu plus a takeout operation with a dedicated pick-up window. Big Ash continues brewing and serving beer on-site through a self-serve tap system that also includes wine and hard seltzers. Big Ash remained open throughout the renovation period leading up to the March 10 opening.

"This new Taphouse is all about giving our guests more of what they already love," Fucito said. "While the location may be new, the heart of LaRosa's hasn't changed. We've served Mount Washington for more than four decades, and this expansion and relocation is our way of honoring our loyalty to our guests. We can't wait to welcome families, friends and even pups into a larger, more comfortable space that still feels like home."

Big Ash co-owner Brian Sanders framed the partnership in explicitly local terms. "Our passion for brewing has always been rooted in community," Sanders said. "Partnering with LaRosa's gives us the opportunity to pair our beer with a Cincinnati institution, bringing together great local brews and the flavors families in this community have grown up with, right here in Anderson and Mount Washington."

In a Facebook post, Big Ash told its regulars the brewery would continue to "be the brewery and community hub you love," while LaRosa's brings "a brand-new Taphouse experience for their loyal fans."

LaRosa's was founded in Cincinnati in 1954 and currently operates 60 pizzerias across Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. The Taphouse concept represents the brand's first formal collaboration with a craft brewery, and for Big Ash, it means more foot traffic, a full kitchen, and a pizza brand that the East Side has been ordering from for generations sharing the same tap handles.