USA, CA: Mad Era Brewing to open as Simi Valley’s first craft brewery

Simi Valley will step into the craft brewery landscape, with the city’s first brewery opening in fall of 2018. Mad Era Brewing started demolition less than two weeks ago, in a shuttered Marie Callender’s. Plans for the 8,400 square feet space include a full-production brewery, taproom, bar, seating area, and an existing 1,000 square foot patio, along with a small kitchen, the Eater LA reported on April 4.

Husband and wife Adam and Christine Greenberg are Simi Valley residents, and this is their first craft beer venture. Local brewers Mike Stavrakis and Alex Khamudis also signed onto the project.

While breweries were not technically allowed in Simi Valley, the Greenbergs met with local officials and found them cooperative. “There were some breweries in the early 1990s, but not the kind we think of today. They didn’t last long,” explained Adam Greenberg. “We met with the city a year ago, and they told us their concerns. It’s an old code, and takes a lot to change it, but they want to work with us.”

The Greenbergs chose a Marie Callender’s that had been closed for seven years, where the property sat in disarray. The city required the brewery to maintain a certain distance away from schools and residential areas, and all parties were happy to see something happen to the vacant property.

It’s safe bet that Simi Valley residents will appreciate Mad Era Brewing’s opening. The surrounding neighborhoods of Moorpark, Westlake Village, Chatsworth, and Ventura have an abundance of new and established breweries, but most have a smaller population size than Simi Valley.

05 April, 2018