04/10/2022
The Boulder Creek Brewing Patreon account reads: "We are reincarnating the legendary Boulder Creek Brewing Company! Once an iconic staple of Boulder Creek, the San Lorenzo Valley, and Santa Cruz County, the original brewery tragically burned in 2015. As the 13th Microbrewery opened in the state of California in 1989, it stood the test of time, and was a great part of history, both locally and statewide.
Difficult to rebuild, it has sat empty for seven years; until now. We've decided to apply our resources and expertise to re-engineer and repair the original building, bringing it up to modern standards of design, building code, cuisine, acoustics, and gathering and entertainment space. The updated building will revitalize the lower end of Highway 9 in downtown Boulder Creek and will once again become a favorite destination for locals and visitors alike."
The new owner of the former Boulder Creek Brewery building, Joseph Wolff, is eager to return the fondly remembered restaurant and gathering place to its former glory. The fire in 2015 left just the walls and basement intact. Wolff purchased the shell of the building in early 2021. Wolff said, “We've had some big successes, and have made great strides forward so far.”
The good news is that his team is now in a position to apply for commercial financing to complete the project. “We have completed our investigations of the structural integrity of the building and the existing walls and foundations and they are solid,” Wolff said. The re-engineering is also now mostly complete. Structural Engineer Morris Shaffer and Designer / Architect Chris Baer of La Selva Design Group have been working the plans through the County submission process. They have engaged a County liaison, Hogan Land Services, for the plumbing and septic re-approval. “We now have some bounded numbers to take to lenders and investors,” Wolff said.
Options for investment in the new business include a split paradigm that would see ownership of the building separate from ownership in the restaurant. Small Business Administration (SBA) startup funding is available, Wolfe said, and the team is accepting creative investment ideas as well as taking general and subcontractor bids.
“We have made great progress on the existing site,” Wolff said. “The debris is gone, and we are rebuilding the floor ‘as is’ using new structural plans.” New rollup doors and electrical wiring have been installed. The vision is still alive.
Peering into the future, Wolff said ideas for the build-out are exciting. "We have a tentative Bar/Restaurant design and layout, with a banquet room and offices in the new mezzanine upstairs." He plans a highly visible stainless brewing area fronted by a bar, and he plans to have a full kitchen. "The front two thirds will still have the soaring exposed ceilings typical of a brew pub!" As a big music fan, Wolff expects to have at least one stage for live music performances to take advantage of what he expects will be great acoustics in the new building.
The team has locked in two veteran Brew Masters: Bart Bullington with 20+ years experience and over a dozen previous breweries under his belt, and Jack Whybark, who has 25+ years experience, including launching Laguna Beach Brewing Co with Bart. You can read about these guys on the Boulder Creek Brewing website: https://bouldercreekbrewing.com/post/2022-05-15-new-brewmaster/
Boulder Creek Brewing Company is seeking financial support and is open to creative options from commercial lenders and private investors. Read up on what Joseph is looking for here: https://bouldercreekbrewing.com/page/investors/
Read more about the journey: https://slvpost.com/a-new-boulder-creek-brewery/
Visit the Patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/BoulderCreekBrewingCo
Stay tuned: bouldercreekbrewing.com
Contact Joseph Wolff: Office 408-354-4325 | Cell 408-455-0010
[email protected]
Interview with Joseph Wolff by fellow music and craft beer lover, Julie Horner.
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