The owner of U-31 Bar are gearing up to launch their own brewpub! The Original 40 Brewing Company is a brewery and restaurant currently in the works in North Park for an early spring debut.
North Park residents, Steve & Patricia Billings, have taken over the 4,000 square-foot space that last housed Grace Christian Center Church across the street from U-31 Bar, which the couple has been operating for over a decade, and are in the process of building it out to open an 85-seat brewery and full-service restaurant. Dubbed The Original 40 Brewing, the name pays homage to the 40-acres of land purchased in 1893 by James Monroe Hartley that eventually became the founding site of the North Park neighborhood.
The Original 40 Brewing Company will be quite the brewing operation, housing a 15-barrel brewhouse with two 30 barrel and three 15 barrel fermenters, as well as four 15-barrel bright tanks. Head brewer Chris Gillogy - who previously worked at Mikkeller Brewing, Pizza Port and won a couple Great American Beer Festival medals while at Groundswell Brewing - will brew up an eclectic mix of beer styles. The Original 40 hopes to develop a core lineup of craft beers, as well as specialties and collaborations with other area breweries. The company is currently in the process of finalizing hiring of an executive chef to develop a modern California menu. The restaurant and bar is being designed by Mariana Postlethwaite of Tijuana’s Casa Duhagon, who is implementing an industrial-chic style.
"We Are currently interviewing for a head chef," explained The Original 40 owner Steve Billings. "Although we have not settled on our menu yet, we are interested in serving small and larger plates, that will pair with our different beer creations. We will be focusing on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients."
Once The Original 40 is up and running, the Billingses will turn eyes on reinvigorating U-31. They plan on redesigning the dark space to let in more light and add a sports bar feel. They will also implement a new food menu.
The Original 40 Brewing Company will sit at 3117 University Avenue in North Park and is anticipated to unveil in mid-March.
