New Brewery Coming Soon To Cheshire

CHESHIRE, CT — After receiving the unanimous approval of the Cheshire Planning and Zoning Commission earlier this month, the owners of Cheshire Craft Brewing are hoping to open “as soon as possible.”

Cheshire Craft Brewing, which is spearheaded by Jami Ferguson, Frank Barretta and Scott DeMeo, will be located at 125 Commerce Court. DeMeo is hoping to have a soft opening near the end of summer.

“We’re moving as quickly as the regulations allow,” DeMeo said. “I am optimistic we’ll have a soft open while it’s still warm outside. Selecting an exact date is nearly impossible due to the multiple state and regulatory agencies multi-layered approval process. The time frame for each step of the licensing process has increased as government offices have been impacted in their own way by coronavirus. Our grand opening will likely be later in the year, possibly spring of 2021.”

The brewpub will have both indoor and outdoor seating. There will be a glass overhead door that separates the interior and exterior seating areas, according to DeMeo.

“In pleasant weather, we anticipate having a large open-air space,” DeMeo said. “There will also be an approximately 1,500-square foot outdoor space at the rear of the building, with tables and chairs. We will be bringing in food trucks as well as having some prepackaged snack options for purchase. The space will be equipped to host small, acoustic-type musicians, and can also support events like trivia nights.”

Individually, the partners had all been thinking about opening a brewery for the past several years but things started movingly quickly within the last 15 months.

Barretta and DeMeo had been working independently with the town, trying to find locations for a brewery. Through mutual friends, Ferguson was introduced to Barretta and DeMeo and then things “really moved quickly.”

While Barrett and DeMeo know the ins-and-outs of brewing, DeMeo said Ferguson knows “what’s required to get our business open and how to sell the beer.”

The coronavirus pandemic brought about some changes to the team’s original plans for the brewery. When the reality of what was happening was clear in mid-March, DeMeo said the team “paused for a bit to reaffirm the market and business plan.”

“The biggest reality was a clear need for outdoor space, which, until that point, had been a want and not a must-have for the properties being looked at,” DeMeo said. “Additionally, with many of the people we needed to interact with working from home, getting information was a bit delayed. Finally, even between the three of us, we had to meet virtually, which at times proved difficult. Everything has moved a little slower than we’d like. However, it’s been in the interest of public safety and making wise financial decisions. We are committed to moving as expeditiously as possible to open our doors. Bottom line, even with the obstacles of gathering, there is a demand for locally manufactured premium craft beers. We are confident in our business model.”

DeMeo said the experience of opening a new business during a pandemic has been “honestly, a little scary.”

“But, having everything nearly grind to a halt in late March afforded us the opportunity to reexamine our business model, focus on who our customer will be and what our customer wants,” DeMeo said. “We know our customer wants a handcrafted premium beer, but we needed to analyze how we can deliver that product to them safely and responsibly.”

DeMeo said the town of Cheshire has been “really great about helping us through the process.” He credited several town officials, including Economic Development Coordinator Jerry Sitko and Town Planner William Voelker, along with Milone & McBroom, Attorney Matt Hall and the Planning and Zoning Commission, for being “so supportive and eager to see us succeed.”

“Luckily, we are still in the planning phase, so we have been able to make adjustments throughout,” DeMeo said. “We do recognize that when we begin to return to a time when public socialization is a thing again, Cheshire Craft Brewing will be there to provide a space, great beer, and a fabulous experience for those in and around Cheshire.”

For more information, visit Cheshire Craft Brewing on Facebook here.