The Phoenix Brewing Company celebrated its grand opening with a historic ribbon-cutting Thursday evening outside its North Diamond street location.
Although the business has been open a little more than three months, the company has a weekend full of special events planned to commemorate their official grand opening.
Bob Schroer, great-great-grandson of Charles Schroer who built the building in 1914, was honored to be asked to cut the ribbon.
“I’m sure that if my grandfather were here, we’d be sitting at the bar enjoying a beer,” Bob Schroer said as he cut the ribbon Thursday.
Two of the partners in Phoenix Brewing, Steve Zigmund and Josh Beard, held the ribbon as Schroer did the honors.
The century-old building was originally used as a mortuary, with embalming done in the basement, a chapel on the second floor and viewing rooms on the third floor. The four partners who run Phoenix did extensive remodeling to the abandoned building before opening the business earlier this year.
The basement is now home to their brewing equipment and the main floor is home to the brew pub complete with a rustic wooden bar and exposed brick and concrete.
“Pretty much everything we hoped to accomplish in Phase 1 is done,” Zigmund said.
Zigmund said they intend to make more additions and upgrades to the building, include an upgrade to some of their signs. A large brick patio next to the building opened just a few weeks ago, making the building that much more inviting to guests, Zigmund said.
The Phoenix owners are happy to be a part of the growing Mansfield downtown and appreciate the other business owners and their support.
“We’re just like one big happy family. We watch out for them, and they watch out for us,” Zigmund said. “The downtown just keeps getting stronger and we’re just one piece of that.”
Phoenix offers seven beers brewed on site: Pale Ale 419, John Doe American Wheat, Ferryman Stout, 5 Guinea ESB, Redemption IPA, Danger City brown ale, and the newest beer, The Schroer-Pilsner, named for the Schroer family.
“We’re always looking to add new flavors. Some will be seasonal. Others may be permanent parts of our menu,” Zigmund said. He said they also enjoy having different beers on guest tap, allowing Mansfield residents to get a taste of other Ohio microbreweries.
As part of the grand opening festivities, Brian Moore performed Thursday night, Ricky G will perform Friday night and Fat Daddy’s Blues Band will perform Saturday night. In addition, Phoenix will be giving away gift cards, t-shirts and growler bottles throughout the weekend.
The business, located at 131 North Diamond Street in Mansfield, is open from 4 to 10 p.m. Thursdays, 4 p.m. to midnight Fridays and 2 p.m. to midnight Saturdays.
“The downtown just keeps getting stronger and we’re just one piece of that,” said Steve Zigmund of The Phoenix Brewing Company.
