Good City Brewing To Open Taproom In Wauwatosa

WAUWATOSA, WI— A local brewery is coming to the Wauwatosa area. Good City’s Wauwatosa taproom will be located in the Mayfair Collection building formerly occupied by ABV Social, the popular sports bar that recently announced it was closing its doors due to the pandemic, according to a news release.

"We are so excited to bring this beloved local brewery to The Mayfair Collection," said Brenton Schrader, VP of Retail Leasing & Marketing for HSA Commercial Real Estate. "As we continue to build and grow this new community, we think that the Good City taproom is going to be the perfect spot for our guests and residents to grab a beer, watch a game, and have some fun."

ABV Social, a sports bar and restaurant, shuttered its doors on Dec. 27. The restaurant was located at the Mayfair Collection, 11200 W. Burleigh St. The restaurant was the last of four by Phoenix Hospitality Group to close. Phoenix Hospitality built and opened four restaurants at The Mayfair Collection starting in late 2015: ABV Social, Taqueria El Jefe, Café Grace and Osgood's.

Schrader said it was the combination of the existing competition, occupancy restrictions, and decline in dine-in business because of the pandemic that became too much to bear for the Phoenix Hospitality Group (operator of ABV, El Jefe, and Cafe Grace).

"Like most restaurant operators, it was an awfully tough year for them," Schrader said.

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According to Good City co-founder Dan Katt, the Wauwatosa taproom represents a homecoming of sorts. “I grew up just a few miles west of the site, off Burleigh Rd, so it’s something we’ve always had our eyes on - opportunities to expand the Good City experience to that area. We couldn’t be more excited to join the neighborhood.”

Katt noted that the decision to open a new taproom in the midst of a pandemic is both exciting and surreal.

“When HSA reached out to us late last year about opening a new location, our initial thought was that we were crazy for even entertaining the idea. But a pillar of our business since Day 1 has been risk taking, and we thought the opening of this taproom would time well with vaccinations and the overall trajectory of the pandemic.”

Good City is targeting a spring opening for its Wauwatosa taproom with the possibility of outdoor popup beer gardens beforehand.

While the menu is not yet finalized, expect curry fries, burgers and other staples Good City is known for in addition to innovative new brews from its Indigo experimental series.

Co-founder David Dupee is excited about the jobs that will be created by the new taproom. “The pandemic has certainly impacted everyone, but the hospitality industry in particular has been hit hard. We feel incredibly grateful to still be standing and will do everything within our power to create and preserve service industry jobs.”

Fueled by its Spare Time Hazy IPA, Good City is distributed state-wide by Beechwood Sales & Service. Good City also operates its production brewery out of its original East Side location on Farwell Avenue as well as a taproom and pilot brewery in the Deer District outside Fiserv Forum in downtown Milwaukee. Good City’s administrative offices and warehouse are located at the Century City building near 30th and Capitol.

For more information, visit www.goodcitybrewing.com or follow @goodcitybrewing on Instagram.