Tampa Brewing Company Announces Site for New Brewery
May 14, 2014 | Category: Brewery OpeningExpanded facility expected to create up to 60 new jobs and $5 million in capital investment
Tampa, FL – May 14, 2014 – Tampa Bay Brewing Company (TBBC) of Ybor City announced today plans to open a second brewery restaurant in northwest Hillsborough County. In a significant leap from the existing, smaller-scale operation in a Centro Ybor suite, the new location will feature a standalone building with a production brewery and packaging facility. The expansion will provide TBBC with more than four times the current brewing capacity, allowing for increased packaged beer distribution across the state. The project is expected to create up to 60 new jobs and more than $5 million in capital investment upon completion in 2015.
“We are all very excited about creating new jobs in Hillsborough County and the wonderful City of Tampa that has been our home for so many years,” said John Doble, patriarch of the family business. “Hillsborough County has been amazingly supportive of this endeavor.”
Hillsborough County will assist the company with an expedited permitting process designed to save businesses time and money.
“This is a great success story for our community, and reflects our growing presence in the craft brewing industry,” said the Hon. Mark Sharpe, Chairman of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. “We’re creating an environment that not only attracts investment to Hillsborough County, but allows a local, family-operated business like the Tampa Bay Brewing Company to grow and prosper.”
A 2.1-acre site, located near the intersection of Race Track Road and Hillsborough Avenue abutting the Hillsborough/Pinellas County line, will accommodate the new 17,400 sq. ft. facility.
“After many years of steady growth in historic Ybor City, we’re very excited to find a location that will more readily expose TBBC to an expanded market and demographic,” said Vicki Doble, general manager and co-founder of TBBC. “Our fine beers, quality food, and family friendly atmosphere will be far more accessible to our customers in Town-n-Country, Westchase and Oldsmar.”
The brewery will feature a 30-barrel brewing system, a taphouse and restaurant. Tours will be available to the public.
“I’m very excited about finding a suitable location in our home county with the land needed to build a production brewery,” said David Doble, brewmaster. “The massive additional brewing capacity and the ability to have direct truck access to the brewery are fantastic. In addition, we’ll continue the awesome restaurant service and outside seating that our current customer base has come to enjoy.”
“The expansion of the Tampa Bay Brewing Company adds great flavor to our community story, and emphasizes the competitive strength of our connectivity for manufacturing and distribution,” said Allen Brinkman, Chair of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation and Chairman, President and CEO of SunTrust Bank Tampa Bay. “We congratulate the Doble family on this exciting news, and look forward to their continued success in the years to come.”
The addition of this brewery to the Tampa Bay area not only confirms the craft beer industry’s popularity but is another driver to put Tampa on the map for increased tourism and hospitality. Construction is expected to begin in June 2014 with beer rolling off the line in early 2015.
“In a short time, the Tampa Bay Brewing Company has become a homegrown Tampa brand operating in historic Ybor City. Their expansion highlights the enormous growth of the craft beer industry in our area,” said Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn. “Let’s raise a glass to their success and may the craft beer industry continue to find a home in Tampa.”
Additional information can be found here in our press kit: http://tinyurl.com/TBBC-Presskit
About Tampa Bay Brewing Company
The Doble family founded the Tampa Bay Brewing Company in 1995 to satisfy Tampa Bay’s thirst for better beer and great food at a reasonable price. It’s still a family affair, with mother and son serving as general manager and brewmaster respectively. The original TBBC location was a historic two-story brick building that previously housed horses on 15th Street in the Ybor City district of Tampa. Needing more space for an ever-growing fan base, in 2006 TBBC moved to a larger location on the plaza level of Centro Ybor with both indoor and open-air patio seating.