Goose Island to open brewpub next to Fillmore in Fishtown
The project is a confirmed go. The lease was signed last week.
You can count on two major growth areas:
One is the region's beer scene, as brewpubs and breweries are popping up all over. Two is the exploding development around Frankford Avenue and Delaware Avenue in Fishtown, as the Fillmore and SugarHouse have become a magnet for other entertainment destinations such as Revolutions, Punch Line, and the soon-to-open Philadelphia Distilling. (I'll also soon be telling you about a "man cave"-theme lounge on the way.)
Now, combine Fishtown and Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest brewer.
Next year, a Goose Island brewpub is expected to open in a former dry-ice plant on Laurel Street, around the corner from the Fillmore and behind Punch Line. Word of the project trickled out in August, after a liquor license was posted on the building.
The project is a confirmed go. The lease was signed last week, reports Core Realty.
In a note to me on Oct. 12, Goose Island president Ken Stout said the brewpub was aiming to open in summer 2017, "pending all we need to accomplish first."
A-B InBev bought the Chicago-based Goose Island several years ago and earlier this year bought Goose Island's actual brewpub. A-B also has completed its purchase of SABMiller - a $108 billion deal.
From the looks of a photo I snapped of the Goose Island site in early August (below), much work must be done.
Fishtown, Northern Liberties, and the nearby areas will be awash in brewpubs, breweries, and taprooms in the next year:
Evil Genius (1727 N. Front St.) is getting close with its brewpub. For now, it's running a beer garden outside. Saturday, Oct. 15 from 2-10 p.m. will be its fifth anniversary celebration.
Flying Fish Crafthouse (31st and Master Streets), targeting a November opening, will be a pub in Brewerytown serving mainly the beers of the Camden County brewer.
Fishtown Brewpub (1100 Frankford Ave.) is aiming at February 2017.
Neshaminy Creek Brewing Co. (957 Frankford Ave.) is quite a ways out with its taproom, based on a chat with co-owner Rob Jahn.
Roy-Pitz Brewing Co. (990 Spring Garden St.) is looking at the first quarter of 2017 for its brewpub in the loft district.
Urban Village Brewing Co. (1001 N. Second St.), a brewpub, is prepping for an early 2017 opening in Schmidt's Commons (the former Piazza at Schmidt's).
Yards Brewing Co. is expanding into a building at Fifth and Spring Garden Streets in late 2017.
Also on the books are:
La Cabra Brewing's brewpub in Berwyn is about two weeks away.
Wissahickon Brewing Company in East Falls just got its permitting to start brewing.
Brewery ARS says it's getting close on West Passyunk Avenue in South Philadelphia.
Crowded Castle Brewing Co. is in progress in Phoenixville.
Wrong Crowd Beer is a Haverford nano-brewery, not open to the public, that should be selling beer in two months or so.
See map for locations.