MANSFIELD — The Phoenix Brewing Company now has more space than ever to brew beer.
The brewery’s owners acquired the 25,000 square-foot building adjacent to its 131 N. Diamond St. location in 2018, expanding their brewing capabilities significantly.
“Our portfolio of beers has grown tremendously since we opened in 2014. Then, we had only four beers on tap. We had two fermenters in the basement, and we had run out of one of the beers by the end of the week. So then we only had three by the second week of being open,” said co-owner, Scott Cardwell.
Now, the brewery makes dozens of its own beers and brews specialty beers for places like one Mansfield’s newest restaurant, Dan Lew Exchange and Hudson & Essex, a high-end restaurant set to open later this year at the corner of Diamond and Fourth streets.
The recently acquired building will provide additional space to brew, house storage and future offices, according to Cardwell. There is no intention of moving the brewery into the new building.
“This bar right here, I don’t see us ever leaving. Because this is the face of us … I won’t guarantee anything, but I cannot foresee this part right here, ever not being here,” Cardwell said.
He pondered long-term possibilities like using the space for a banquet hall, restaurant or another bar, but none of these suggestions included vacating the brewery’s current location, which is leased.
“Actually, what I’d love to see is the area between this building and that building get finished off a bit. Have some awnings, outdoor heaters, have a space that can be used at least three seasons out of the year,” Cardwell said.
Before purchasing the new building, the Phoenix Brewing Company rented its 2,000 square-foot garage for brewing and storage of some kegs. This was in addition to using its 131 N. Diamond St. location’s basement for brewing and office space.
Still, they were running out of space.
“As time went on, we discussed the possibility of leasing more space versus buying more property, and we were finally were able to come to an agreement for the purchase,” Cardwell said. “And for us, that made the most sense because of the refurbishing that’s going to need to be done. We wanted to own a building that we would potentially be putting that kind of money into.”
One of the next things, he’d like to do is move the brewery owners’ offices to the new building. Cardwell believes this will take “minimal work.” He anticipated some needs like heating and plumbing improvements.
The upper portion of the building, he believes, will be more challenging to address, as a sprinkler system would need to be installed.
The brewery’s new building was purchased from Todd Tridico, according to the Richland County Auditor’s website.
