AKRON, Ohio — The city of Akron has expanded its designated outdoor refreshment area, known as DORA. 

What You Need To Know

  • Akron has expanded its designated outdoor refreshment area DORA in a major way

  • DORA now covers around 145 acres of the downtown area

  • Around 40 businesses are included in DORA

According to the city of Akron’s website, DORA “is a designated public area where alcoholic beverages can be purchased from permitted establishments and consumed outdoors within the district.”

It will now cover around 145 acres, stretching from R. Shea Brewing at Canal Place all the way to Lock 15 Brewing Co. on the opposite side of the city. 

Ronald Shea is the owner of R. Shea Brewing and he said he is excited to see what this expanded DORA brings to the city and local businesses. 

“We are quite excited, not knowing what to expect,” Shea said. “But I’ve heard from other DORA districts that it is definitely worth it.” 

Akron’s DORA will now include around 40 downtown businesses. Before the expansion, it only included four. 

“So that’s a great opportunity for new people,” Shea said. “There is going to be a lot of people centralized down here.”

To take your drink outdoors, it must be purchased at a DORA approved business, in a DORA cup.

Dozens of cities across the state have DORA districts.​