WOB Ft. Myers! ‘World of Beer’ Bringing 500 Beers, Live Music and Brew Loyalty to Bell Tower

Hospitality, Variety and Education are Benchmarks of Hot Concept Based in Florida

Matt LaFon, left, and Scott Zepp, right, pose at the WOB flagship Westchase store in Tampa.

Coming up with a plan over a beer is certainly not unusual, but for Scott Zepp and Matt LaFon from Pensacola, Florida it worked even better because the plan was all about the beers…lots of beers.

As much as it was about new beer choice in the neighborhood, Scott and Matt started with a couple of goals, like  “treating people right’ and to create a culture that included loyalty and appreciation of the guests, the beers and the community.

Sometime in very early June, The World of Beers (WOB) will pour it on 500 ways at their newest location in the Bell Tower Shops in Fort Myers. The all-beer concept is a hot one one that has used a cool setting, the right mix of local live music, national sporting events, consistent promotions and the neighbor’s kitchen to grow to over a dozen locations in Florida since that first Tampa WOB opened in January 2007. World of Beer will occupy the Bell Tower space that was home to Bacchus, the formerly cool  ‘wine & tapas’ bar.

While keeping track of an inventory of 500 beers may be difficult the concept is really a simple one if you think about it. A Beer-only focus with the most knowledgeable staff that’s ready to tell you what the difference is in beer terms like IPA, ABV and IBU.All staff will be schooled in a rigorous  training program and must graduate from the ‘World of Beer  Beer School‘ before pouring their first beer.

There isn’t a food menu at any of the World of Beers, instead there is a ‘portfolio’ of menus that will satisfy  beer drinkers from the munchies to burritos and from burgers to sushi. In every location, WOB has signed on dozens of partner restaurants that will use their runners to deliver a wide range of cuisines and menu items that will be served daily. The portfolio supports local restaurants and introduces restaurants and their menu items to the new clientele that packs each WOB.

The meals will be served both  inside World of Beers Fort Myers which will be a smoke-free zone as well as the outside bar that will be smoke-friendly.  Nightly promotions are consistent at all locations and every Thursday, Friday and Saturday Nights expect to hear live local musicians.

Their unique concept was first embraced by the community of Westchase in Tampa, Florida. Very soon after, inquiries about franchising their World of Beers poured in and the growth opportunities were tempting, but the Florida company stayed close to home and are now are poised and ready to go national.

Scott Zepp and Matt LaFon continue educating, entertaining and changing the way we think and drink the world’s oldest form of ‘adult’ beverage.  They have added industry pros to help take them to the next level including Ben Novello who is now the CEO of World Beer Franchising Inc.. Novello was the former President of Outback Steakhouse (OSI) and his joined by Jim Pollard also a long time Executive at OSI.

World of Beers West Palm Beach opened on March 29 of this year and the number will rise to 20 by years end, including the first of many out-of -the -Sunshine State WOB locations like California, Texas and North Carolina.

The Fort Myers location will be owned and operated by a franchise team of  three Florida businessmen Rick San Martin, Chris Ewanowski and Simon Canasi and they will follow the formula that is working…and working well by offering more beers on draft and more American craft beers than can be found anywhere.

The World of Beers will always offer a list of brews that accommodates everyone from the the domestic drinker to the more discerning hopheads, and the trained will not only know about every beer, but they’ll offer a taste of any draft before you decided which pint you’ll try that visit.  There is no doubt that variety will add spice to the rewards offered in the Loyalty Card Program as  World of Beers customers can redeem points that are earned for every beer they order.

Loyalty Cards cost just $15 and gets members an extra dollar off on all bottled beers on Tuesdays as well as starts you way to being a ‘Beer God’. Trying 50 different beers get you started  and gets you into the ’50 club’ and on your way up to ‘Beer God’ status. Drinkers will get prizes for stops at the  ’100 Club’ and the  ’250 Club’ but you have to try 500 beers to become a WOB Beer God and to be rewarded with your own induction party that starts with a $250 bar tab for the ‘Beer God’ and your friends.

The World of Beer is coming to Fort Myers and will  create new interest in beers and a loyal and local following for their neighborhood corner bar hospitality. Get ready to raise glass with 500 choices of beer to toast with.

Short URL: http://www.beverageunderground.com/?p=6180

Posted by smokey on Apr 21 2011. Filed under 239 Buzz, 239 Places, 239 Promos / Events. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry