USA, MI: Rake Beer Project to become downtown Muskegon’s third brewery

Downtown Muskegon’s third brewery is coming, MLive.com reported on December 14.

Rake Beer Project, owned by Muskegon-born brewer Josh Rake, recently signed on to be part of a new development in downtown Muskegon.

The brewery is one of four businesses that will take up residence at NorthTown 794, which is expected to open during spring 2019, said building owner and Muskegon-based entrepreneur John Essex, of Core Realty Partners.

NorthTown 794 is the reincarnation of the century-old former Al Perri furniture store at 794 Pine St. Built in 1923, the building is being restored to its former 1920s glory with the goal of contributing to the rapid redevelopment and rebirth of downtown Muskegon.

The brewery and taproom will occupy the garden level.

The historic building is “absolutely beautiful,” said Rake, a 2010 Mona Shores graduate who plans to move back to Muskegon to open his brewery.

Muskegon is a good fit because of its established craft brewing reputation, he said.

Downtown Muskegon is home to Unruly Brewing Company and Pigeon Hill Brewing Company, both of which are in the process of expanding their production.

“With Pigeon Hill and Unruly recognized as high quality breweries, people are already driving in - it becomes a tourist destination,” Rake said.

He plans to offer a different variety of beers than his soon-to-be neighbor brewers. Rake will focus on what he calls “progressive farmhouse ales," which he describes as traditional brewing methods with modern styles. The focus will be on IPAs, sours and table beers.

Rake Beer Project will occupy 6,300 square feet of NorthTown with half used for production and the other half for the taproom.

The setting will be industrial with concrete floors and walls but the decor will be woodsy, Rake said.

Other businesses at NorthTown will include Aldea Coffee; Redmon’s Kitchen & Bar, a sports bar featuring burgers, chicken and waffles, Tex-Mex and more; and Capone’s Speakeasy and Pizzeria, specializing in Chicago-style deep dish. The second floor is available for build-to-suit office space or other businesses.

An attractive attribute of the space is the “massive beer garden," Rake said. The garden level walks out to a patio that wraps around the building and will be used by the brewery and coffee shop.

Sharing the building with other businesses also offers advantages, he said.

“It seems like a great place to be,” Rake said, whose experience includes work at Old Nation Brewing, New Holland Brewing, Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales. The businesses can “work off each other.”

Capone’s, a nod to 1920s mobster Al Capone, is owned by Jim Noel. Noel also co-owns Redmon’s with Gary Redmon who owns Topshelf Pizza & Pub, 2155 E. Apple Ave., and Topshelf Liquor Bar & Pizza, 500 W. Western Ave., both in Muskegon.

Aldea Coffee has another location inside the Grand Armory, 17 S. Second St. in Grand Haven. The building houses Grand Armory Brewing, Righteous BBQ and other businesses along with Aldea.

The four NorthTown 794 businesses will join a renaissance of sorts in the downtown Muskegon northside area, which includes the Muskegon Farmers Market, The Cheese Lady, Morat’s Bakery, East of Eden Wellness Spa Center and The Front Porch. Nipote’s Italian Kitchen is under construction nearby.

13 December, 2018