Standing in the place of the old Beehive Bookstore on 25 N. Sandusky St. is the upcoming Restoration Brew Worx (RBW), Delaware’s new brewery.
In January of 2014, the Beehive Bookstore closed. Following the closing, owners Joe and Linda Diamond began searching for a business to take over the empty space. According to Rick Martine, managing partner of Brew Worx, “the Diamonds wanted the space to continue to be a place where people could gather together, talk about the day’s events and relax in a comfortable and supportive environment.” Martine has been a resident of Delaware for 18 years.
“Restoration Brew Worx is technically a brewpub, where we manufacture our own beer for sale over our bar and we also provide foodservice,” said Martine. “We will brew our beer on a 10-barrel system purchased from B Cast Stainless in Plain City, OH.”
This new system will produce 310 gallons of beer per batch and will be served in the Restoration Brew Worx storefront and in select locations around Delaware. Martine said their goal is “to brew and serve 500-700 barrels of beer in the first year.”
The storefront of the former Beehive Bookstore will undergo minor changes as RBW settles in. Martine said “Joe Diamond ‘restored’ the front in 2007. We are leaving the existing iron sign frames in place and simply replacing the Beehive sign with our new RBW sign and the existing banners with our own.”
Other changes to the store front will include a fenced patio area in front with roughly 20 seats and two bi-fold windows within the existing framework. These windows will allow RBW to open the front in warm weather, and close it in cold weather.
Martine said that inside they “are in the process of adding a new 20-seat bar and roughly 15 dining tables, changing the lighting, adding ceiling fans, a fresh coat of paint and a new floor. We have added a small kitchen, new restrooms and our pride and joy, the 10 barrel brewery in the back. The brewery will remain open to view by the patrons as we feel it offers a truly unique visual experience, not available anywhere else in Delaware. Patrons will be able to see the equipment and experience what it is like to step inside a working brewery.”
In order to legally establish a brewery in downtown Delaware RBW had to obtain a tax and trade bureau permit, state liquor license, building permits, Delaware Heath District permits and USDA approvals.
As for an opening date, Martine said “at the moment our brew system is in and going through a testing phase, but we are waiting on the tax and trade bureau to approve our brewery permit and the state of Ohio to issue our A-1c manufacturing license, which will allow us to begin brewing. Once we can begin brewing, it will be roughly 5-6 weeks for us to brew enough beer to open the doors and let the taps flow freely. We will be keeping everyone updated on our website and our Facebook page.”
“While the legal drinking age remains 21 in the state of Ohio, we are a gathering place for people of all ages who share a love of good craft beer and their families,” said Martine. “We will serve our younger patrons with a limited children’s menu and soft drinks, featuring our house-made root beer, so that Mom and Dad can still enjoy a pint of their favorite brew.”
Senior Haley Schafer said, “I am excited for Restoration Brew Worx to open. I believe this will be a great place for people to relax and hang out in town, while getting a drink.”
According to Martine, RBW “will offer a slightly different element than most of the other drinking and eating establishments around town. We will make and sell only our own beers on tap, but we will attempt to make a beer that almost everyone will find to their liking.”