Sunroom Brewing will open at 3242 S. Acoma St. Englewood CO. 80110 later this year, according to the company’s updated website.
In March, What Now Denver spoke with Co-Founder Matthew Miller about Sunroom’s hunt for a location. At the time, he and his wife Melanie were eyeing Golden, Arvada, and the northwest Lakewood area, chalking up the prolonged search not to a lack of viable buildings but to problems “getting equipment, especially stainless brew vessels, from overseas.”
That said, What Now Denver caught up with the craft couple to see how, after only a few months, they landed on Englewood and which, if any, of their plans have changed since they last spoke with us. An interview with Melanie Miller is forthcoming.
Article has been updated to include the aforementioned interview with Melanie Miller.
WND: When and how did you and Matthew land at this particular location?
MM: We started looking at potential locations in late February. We cast a broad net across the greater West Denver metro and considered everything from new construction to industrial space to properties that would’ve required a complete renovation.
As we honed in on what we were looking for, it became increasingly clear that for us, being in an established community was going to be the best fit. We broadened our search radius and were thrilled to find this space in central Englewood. We knew upon first viewing that it was the right fit for us, and signed our lease in April.
WND: What has the process been like since finding a location?
MM: This building was formerly a taproom, and we’re grateful to be able to bring a similar offering back to the space. We were able to leverage much of the existing construction, which saved on cost and waste, and reduced the number of supply chain hoops we had to jump through.
The most substantial effort has been on building out the brewery itself. The recovering supply chain threw some challenges our way, but we were fortunate to be able to overcome them with just minor delays. We sourced and installed a 7-barrel brewing system, with 5 fermentation tanks to start.
We had to make upgrades to the building’s electrical capacity and install a garage door in order to make this possible. With most of that work behind us, we’re just a few weeks away from starting to brew our first batches.
WND: Is there an update as to when you’ll open? A specific grand opening date?
MM: Our goal is to open in October. Our formal grand opening date is dependent on when we can start brewing, and we’ll announce it broadly once we’re certain.
WND: Have any of your guys’ plans changed since March when What Now Denver initially covered Sunroom?
MM: The vision for the brewery hasn’t changed since we last spoke; we are a family-owned and community-oriented gathering place. We have thoughtful touches that make the space welcoming for families, and are planning to host bands, trivia, and sports nights.
In the four months since signing our lease, we’ve pushed hard to make a fall opening date. We revitalized the interior of the building, adding a mural, sound system, and color to the space. We updated the patio with new seating, improved the lighting, and added a sunshade. Behind the scenes, we worked through zoning and licensing requirements for the space, purchased our initial merchandise offerings, and started hiring.
We’ll have a food truck on-site as well. We’ve been so grateful for the support of the community of Englewood. From neighbors stopping by, to local businesses reaching out, to city officials providing guidance – we’ve been warmly welcomed by this community and we feel so fortunate to have landed here. Englewood truly feels like a small town within the greater Denver Metro, and we’re excited to play a role in its revitalization.
