GLENDALE : Micro Brewery Seeks OK to Open on Brand

It may not be Bavaria or even Milwaukee, but someday Glendale may be known for its beer.

On Tuesday, the Glendale Redevelopment Agency will consider a request by the Gold Coast Co. to open a restaurant and micro brewery at 214 N. Brand Blvd., adjacent to the refurbished Alex Theater. City staffers said the storefront would be converted to a two-level “brew pub,” complete with a new facade complementing the Alex’s.

Micro breweries have long been popular in the Seattle area and have been catching on in Southern California. Recently, a micro brewery was approved in Burbank and is now under construction.

Jeanne Armstrong, Glendale’s redevelopment director, said the project is “highly desirable” for the downtown area.

“Finely crafted ales will be made on site,” she said in a staff report. “The goal is to create an upscale, urban dining experience.”

According to the report, the restaurant company has secured a 10-year lease on the building and expects to spend between $300,000 and $400,000 modifying it. The restaurant will have about 95 seats on the ground floor, 88 on the mezzanine level and 19 at the bar.

But before the restaurant can open for business, the redevelopment agency must approve an exception to parking standards. City staffers are recommending that the agency also waive about $45,000 in sewer hookup fees.

“The costs of converting to a restaurant use are significant,” Armstrong said. “The business owners would like to put the money into tenant and facade uses and equipment.”