April 3, 2018 – If all goes according to plan, Watsonville will have a hip new eating, drinking and shopping complex this summer, anchored by a 4,000 sq. ft. brewpub called the Beer Mule.
A beer mule is someone who carries beer for their friends and that’s what the folks behind the Beer Mule intend to do, hoping to repeat the success they’ve had with Beer Thirty Bottle Shop & Pour House in Soquel, but adding two food businesses to the mix.
Construction crews are moving quickly to finish the complex on Aviation Way across from the Watsonville Airport, called The Hangar. As EMB reported last summer, developers Brian and Kevin Dueck plan to lease the renovated hangar and three to five converted shipping containers to small food and drink businesses.
“We are so excited. We think it’s going to be a great place to hang out from the start of the day to the end of the day,” says Kym Dewitt, CFO of Beer Thirty and a partner in the new project. Beer Mule will occupy more than half of the 6,400 sq. ft. hangar building on the end closest to the freeway and signed a lease in mid-March.
“It’s all beautiful exposed heart redwood in there, so there’s not that much to do,” she added. “Construction crews are fixing up the exterior of the building and bringing in the containers.” Outdoor furniture and lights have already arrived and Dewitt says they are hoping to be ready to open between June and August.
The new beer bar will have a carefully curated list of 300 craft beers available on rotating taps and in bottles. They are looking to add two independently operated food businesses to their space, in the same way that The Kitchen at Discretion is operated by chef Santos Majano at Discretion Brewing. They plan to be open from 11am to 10pm on weekdays and until midnight on Friday and Saturday night.
No other tenants have yet been signed to the complex, because developers were waiting to find out how much space Beer Mule would occupy, Dewitt explained. But she is hoping to see a yoga studio go in and “an awesome breakfast place.” Developers are looking for a coffee shop, juice bar and other artisanal businesses such as a bakery, ice cream maker and vegetarian food stall.
The Beer Thirty folks have also acquired the long-vacant A-frame Der Wienerschnitzel property on the corner of Soquel Avenue and Caledonia Street in Santa Cruz and are planning a third Pour House with outdoor seating there. But they are currently waiting on a building permit and plan to first focus their attention on getting the Watsonville business up and running.
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At Edible Monterey Bay, our mission is to celebrate the local food culture of Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey Counties, season by season. We believe in sustainability, and we believe everyone has a right to healthful, clean and affordable food. We think knowing where our food comes from is powerful, and we hope our magazine, website and newsletters inspire readers to get to know and support our local growers, fishers, chefs, vintners and food artisans.
