If there is a local brewing company that embodies the “neighborhood brewery” model, it’s North Park’s Thorn St. Brewery. Even before it opened, denizens of its namesake community were excited for its arrival. And since the doors swung ajar, North Parkers have frequented the cozy, two-level spot, making it the social hub its owners had hoped for when putting together its business plan. Being a pillar of the community is important to them, but it’s not their only ambition. Now, the company is working on a second location four miles, yet a world away, in the burgeoning Barrio Logan area just south of San Diego’s downtown core.
Thorn St. has taken over a 10,500-square-foot warehouse space at 1741 National Avenue. Formerly the site of the failed San Diego Public Market project, it will play home to a brewery and tasting room going by the name of Thorn Brewing Company. Once open, Thorn’s brew crew will produce 5,000 barrels per year, but the space will allow for enough fermentation vessels to amount to 30,000 barrels annually. Thorn Brewing is scheduled to open its doors by year’s end. Up until now, Thorn St. has had to contract brew outside its North Park digs to meet customer demand, so this next chapter should solve such problems in a more economical manner.
In coming to Barrio Logan, co-founder Dennis O’Connor says his team hopes to replicate the effect Thorn St. had on its section of North Park by “cleaning and brightening up” a street that could use a bit of invigoration. They would see it as a positive if another business with additional block-building appeal took interest in the identical warehouse space next-door to Thorn Brewing as they would enjoy having a quality tenant to team with. There is also the possibility they may take possession of that space as well, with far-off plans to perhaps install a bottle shop, restaurant and/or retail components.
In the past two years, Barrio Logan has welcomed a pair of brewery tasting rooms for Border X Brewing Company and Iron Fist Brewing Company. Both fit into a budding artisanal community that would appear to be aiding significantly in the resurrection of a community that had fallen out of favor with San Diego’s general population, providing fun reasons to visit and rediscover the area.