E-Malt.com News article: USA, VA: Roanoke Railhouse Brewing Co. clears last hurdle to move operations to new location

Roanoke Railhouse Brewing Co. cleared its last hurdle on July 9 to move operations to a new location on Franklin Road after the Roanoke Board of Zoning Appeals approved a special-exception permit for the operation, Roanoke.com reported.

The craft brewer plans to relocate to a 3,000-square-foot building at 3106 Franklin Road across from Piccadilly Square.

However, the property abuts a residential neighborhood, so the operation was required to get a permit to operate a retail outlet to sell its beers on the site.

The board voted unanimously to approve the permit despite concerns about a lack of parking that could compel patrons to park on the other side of Franklin Road and cross the four-lane highway — after having a few beers in some cases.

“We have a responsibility to not create a dangerous condition,” board member Drew Kepley said.
Roanoke Railhouse President Steve Davidson, however, explained that his site has 14 spaces, and an adjacent business that is closed in the evenings when his retail operation would be open is allowing brewery customers to use its six spaces.

If his business doubles from his taproom at the brewery’s old location, he said, he’ll have two dozen customers at a time.

Roanoke Railhouse has been located in the Wimmer Tire building — the old Dr Pepper bottling plant — at 451 C McClanahan St. since it opened in 2009 as Roanoke’s first craft brewery.

Davidson said that site is fine for production but difficult for retail, which is where the most money can be made in the business. The brewery closed its McClanahan operation last month.

Davidson said on July 9 that in the best case scenario, he could reopen in mid-August.

The new site will have a 1,500-square-foot taproom where patrons can drink a pint, buy packaged beer and have growlers filled. Beer production will be confined to the rear of the building, which was formerly home to Custom Auto Sounds.

Roanoke Railhouse also has been in a legal dispute with its old landlord. Mark Hall said Roanoke Railhouse hasn’t paid its full $2,000 rent since October, and in February he filed a claim in court over it.

Roanoke Railhouse, however, has filed a counterclaim.

Davidson said July 9 that the case has been ordered to mediation.


11 July, 2014