San Diego's most prolific hospitality company, the Cohn Restaurant Group, is returning to craft beer brewing after a nearly two decade hiatus, taking over the gigantic 25,000 square foot space that was previously set to be the site of Depot Springs Beer Company in La Mesa for the opening of Draft Republic Brewing Company.
Depot Springs Beer Company was anticipated to be a dining, entertainment venue, brewery and distillery all sited under one roof within a shopping center at 9176 Fletcher Parkway in La Mesa, but that project was eventually deemed too ambitious for La Mesa developer Aaron Dean, who announced that the space and brewing equipment was up for sale early last year. In comes David & Leslie Cohn of San Diego's ever-expanding Cohn Restaurant Group, who purchased the project for $1.8 million with plans to develop a restaurant, brewery and event space on the two acre parcel.
Estimated to cost at least $2 million in additional construction costs, Draft Republic Brewing Co. will be a neighborhood brewery and restaurant that will feature a 15-barrel brewing system for producing a variety of craft beers for onsite consumption, as well as to be served at the hospitality group’s 24 other area eateries (Blue Point, Coasterra, Island Prime, numerous Bo-beau eateries and many others). The Cohn Group is currently looking for a lead brewer for the project.
The restaurant will also feature guest taps from other area breweries, a full cocktail bar, as well as a menu of American fusion dishes like sandwiches, salads, burgers and elevated tavern-style entrees like that served at the other two Draft Republic outposts (La Jolla and Carlsbad). Designed by architecture firm Marengo Morton, the ambitous venue will be both dog and kid-friendly and will have entertainment features like a bocce ball court, a playful beer garden, a kids playground, and an upscale, $500k, 18-hole miniature golf course. Combined, the space will offer 12,000 square-feet of interior space and 13,000 square-feet of outdoor domain.
The restaurant will also feature guest taps from other area breweries, a full cocktail bar, as well as a menu of American fusion dishes like sandwiches, salads, burgers and elevated tavern-style entrees like that served at the other two Draft Republic outposts (La Jolla and Carlsbad). Designed by architecture firm Marengo Morton, the ambitous venue will be both dog and kid-friendly and will have entertainment features like a bocce ball court, a playful beer garden, a kids playground, and an upscale, $500k, 18-hole miniature golf course. Combined, the space will offer 12,000 square-feet of interior space and 13,000 square-feet of outdoor domain.
The Cohn Restaurant Group is not new to the craft brewing business. The company previously operated Hang Ten Brewing in San Diego's Gaslamp with then-brewmaster Paul Segura, who went on to become head brewer for Karl Strauss. That project at 5th and K Streets closed in 2000.
Draft Republic Brewing Co. is anticipated to open by mid-to-late 2019. For more information on the Cohn Restaurant Group, visit cohnrestaurants.com.
