In the Heart of Soho, Manhattan, a New Brewery Emerges Underground
In the heart of SoHo, Manhattan, a new brewery is set to open its doors in March. Torch & Crown Brewing Company, the first significant brewery to establish itself in the borough for decades, is poised to make a mark in the city's competitive and burgeoning $5 billion brewing industry.
The bi-level brewery, located at 12 Vandam Street, features a unique two-story structure, including a Brewer’s Cellar. This distinctive setup is uncommon for Manhattan breweries, making Torch & Crown a noteworthy addition to the city's landscape.
The primary challenges faced by Torch & Crown include the high costs and complexities of opening and operating a brewery in Manhattan, where real estate is expensive and space is limited. The brewery’s co-founders, John Dantzler and Joe Correia, who left their jobs in finance and brewing respectively, have undoubtedly navigated significant logistical and regulatory hurdles typical of the area’s intensely competitive and costly commercial real estate market.
The brewery's core line, including the Almost Famous IPA and Sub Rosa Lager, will continue to be brewed at a production brewery in the Bronx. However, the focus in Manhattan will be on experimentation, with a unique offering of brews tailored to the local market.
Brooklyn and Queens have been the current brewing centres of the city due to cost and space considerations. However, Torch & Crown's success could signal a new era for Manhattan's brewing scene, filling a gap in the borough's limited brewery presence.
The brewery's leadership team includes Christian Papanicholas, the former owner of the beloved, now-shuttered, Cannibal, who will lead the food menu, and Garrett Oliver, now the brewmaster at Brooklyn Brewery, who started his professional brewing career at Manhattan Brewing Company.
Zach Mack, owner of Alphabet City Beer Co., expressed appreciation for Torch & Crown's operation, believing that it has the potential to succeed in Manhattan based on what he has seen and tried. Kevin Lillis, CEO of Hospitality Alliance, shares this sentiment, stating that Torch & Crown has set themselves up nicely to succeed in Manhattan's hard hometown market.
The brewery's hosting of events such as comedy shows in their Brewer’s Cellar demonstrates creative use of space to attract diverse patrons. This community-centered approach could restart the brewing scene in Manhattan, making it an exciting time for beer lovers in the borough.
Despite the challenges, Torch & Crown's success is a testament to the consumer interest for breweries in Manhattan, evidenced by the number of fantastic beer bars in the city. Talea Beer Co., which contract brews with Torch & Crown, plans to open a Williamsburg brewery in 2020 but has faced prohibitively high start-up costs and a lack of suitable real estate in Manhattan.
In summary, Torch & Crown's opening in Manhattan marks a significant step forward for the borough's brewing scene. The bi-level brewery, with its community-centered approach and focus on experimentation, could be the catalyst for a new wave of breweries in Manhattan, filling a gap in the city's brewing landscape.
- The bi-level layout and community-centered approach of Torch & Crown Brewing Company, with its focus on experimentation and unique offerings tailored to the local market, could revolutionize the food-and-drink industry in Manhattan's lifestyle, potentially inspire a new trend in the city's small-business sector.
- The success of Torch & Crown Brewing Company, despite the high costs and complexities of opening and operating a brewery in Manhattan's competitive and costly commercial real estate market, demonstrates the growing demand for better beverages in the city's industry.
- John Dantzler and Joe Correia, the co-founders of Torch & Crown Brewing Company, left their careers in finance and brewing to establish the brewery, overcoming the typical logistical and regulatory hurdles found in Manhattan's brewing industry.
- The brewery's unique two-story structure, including a Brewer’s Cellar, symbolizes a departure from the traditional manufacturing standards within the brewing industry, making Torch & Crown a notable addition to the Manhattan landscape.
