USA, MI: Heights Brewery coming to downtown Farmington

Downtown Farmington's newest brewery is on track to open late next month, the Detroit Free Press reported on August 18.

Heights Brewery, founded by Farmington residents and longtime home brewers Ryan Kavanagh and Shawn MacDonnell, will open at the former Page's Food and Spirits location, 23621 Farmington Road, starting with a soft opening in late September.

The 3,500-square-foot space, designed by Birmingham-based DesignTeam Plus, hopes to provide an "inviting, open and timeless vibe" for customers, with a redesigned front facade, a sizable, garage-style door, accordion-style windows and outdoor seating.

"We wanted to connect the exterior with the interior, and I think we succeeded in doing that," Kavanagh said in a news release.

Kavanagh and MacDonnell have been working to build and open the brewery since last year, working with Farmington's planning commission and downtown development authority as the city revamped its streetscape. The DDA awarded a grant to Kavanagh and MacDonnell to redesign the dated 1970s-style facade, and demolition began in the spring.

Kavanagh brings brewing experience from several southeast Michigan breweries, including Draught Horse in New Hudson and Dragonmead and Kuhnhenn in Warren.

Heights plans to serve a "full array" of beers, including IPAs, porters, stouts, lagers and some specialties, as well as wine, meads, seltzers, hop water, root beer and more. There also will be a menu of smoked meats and an accompanying gluten-free beer and food menu.

"We created two grain mills, regular and gluten-free," said DesignTeam Plus architect Harold Remlinger in a news release. "Both rooms will have exhaust systems, so they are removing any particulates in the air."

Despite the modern look of Heights, it will honor the building's history, too. During demolition of the former Page's Food and Spirits building, Kavanagh uncovered the original mosaic tile floor with the very first bar's name, Stein Haus, and plans to preserve it when Heights Brewing opens. The tile was previously covered by carpet for 40 years.

"(We applaud) Ryan’s decision is to preserve it as a reminder of the past history and strong local connection to the community and a welcome to Heights Brewing," Remlinger said.

This will be Farmington's second brewery, joining Farmington Brewing Company at 33336 Grand River Ave., within a minute's walk in downtown.

19 August, 2023