Gettin' down to business

Well, we have a location!!! We were trying to figure out how to just 'get started' - and it became clear... You can't do much (no permits, no equipment, no nothing) without a spot so that became our first priority and last week we landed our DREAM SPOT! First let me say that we had looked and looked for the past few months and more intensely these past few weeks and nothing really fit our needs. We wanted between 700-1000 sq. feet, and cheap. Plus we wanted to be somewhere cool. The Sash Mill seemed hopeful, but the spot they have is ENORMOUS (3x what we need and 3x what we can pay). We looked at a bunch of other warehouses on the West Side, in Felton, and Scotts Valley, while waiting for a call back from our dream spot in Swift Street Courtyard. Nothing met our reqs. - either too small, too big, too much, it was getting dismal... and then we got the call. Mark Sanchez calling about Swift Street Courtyard! Halleleujah! We love the spot, love the price, love the conditions and we signed the lease! So, for at least the next three years, we are going to be the tenants of the #27 at Swift Street Courtyard.

What makes the spot so great? The actual warehouse space is an old artichoke/brussel sprout packaging plant with the original wood ceilings. There is already a small boxed in room which is perfectly suited for our 'cold storage space.' The floors are cement and Mark has no problem with us cutting them up and putting in a drain. There is a big metal door which slides open and a separate entrance to the offices that Mark threw in for free. But what makes the place amazing - more than the actual warehouse space - is the location. Swift Street Courtyard is a little community on the West Side of artisans and crafters who take great pride in their work. There are wineries, tailors, artists, designers, surfboard builders, landscapers, a gym, a salon, and of course the famed, Kelly's Bakery. It is amazing. And already, they have been so welcoming and warm with us.

Our neighbor, Sharon, runs a wildcrafted basketry store where she makes baskets and has a little boutique set up. She sells willow furniture, hand knits, felted wool, jewelry, and of course her amazing baskets. She also teaches classes. Immediately she made us feel at home, sharing her son's toys with the boys and giving us ideas for the brewery. She also told us about the other tenants and what a close family they have. It is important to Chad to be somewhere where brewing is treated as a craft and appreciated as an art. The customers who come to Swift Street as well as the tenants are those kind of people.

So, we are off and running. We have consulted our friends and serious beer lovers - bringing on a few partners to help us in this amazing new adventure. Chad and Nick are the main partners, but also interested are Scott and Tim. Scott is already hard at work, studying industry standards, brewing communities, and web brew developments. He has already come up with a bunch of great ideas. The courtyard is such a family friendly place - people with kids and pets, bikers and walkers - he suggested brewing a 'rootbeer' or 'sarsparilla' for kids and non-drinkers to taste! Perfect. Also, he has been looking at Flying Dog - and their strength in marketing, not only craft beer, but amazing art - something we may also be able to offer. Tim is going to be taking Chad to 21st Ammendment and showing him the big equipment and meeting with the brewers there! Excitement all around.

Update later about licenses/permits/and the big meeting on Sunday (hopefully) with the Redwood Brewers Guild and 7 Bridges!