San Diego's Cohn Restaurant Group has taken over Urge Gastropub & Common House in San Marcos and will transform the 28,000 square-foot space into Draft Republic Brewing Co.
In summer 2018, we broke the news that San Diego's most prolific hospitality company, the Cohn Restaurant Group, was returning to craft beer brewing after a nearly two decade hiatus and opening Draft Republic Brewing Co. in the gigantic 25,000 square foot space that was previously set to be the site of Depot Springs Beer Company in La Mesa. Three years and a pandemic later, that project is still on hold, but the Cohn Group has found another location to open their craft brewery and restaurant.
The Cohn family has signed a lease to take over Urge Gastropub & Common House, a massive dining, drinking and gaming destination in San Marcos opened by 3 Local Brothers (3LB) Restaurants in 2017. 3LB recently partnered with global hospitality consulting group Tableside Partners to help expand their Mason Aleworks brand and will continue to operate the 15 barrel on-site brewery while simultaneously collaborating with Cohn Restaurant Group on creating beers for Draft Republic Brewing.
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 expected to open as early as late summer and is located at 255 Redel Road within Block C of North City - a 200 acre residential and commercial mix-use community in San Diego's San Marcos. For more information on the Cohn Restaurant Group, visit cohnrestaurants.com.
