Intuition Ale Works looking for second site

CityLife · May 20, 2012, 08:27:18 PM

The Earl Horne building at 1st and Main is likely not 30 feet. Probably only 20-25. My bad.

Strider, there is no doubt that Intuition coming to the Springfield Warehouse District would make others follow. If I had 10 million bucks that would probably be one of the first places I'd look at developing in Jax. In this situation what matters is what is best for the Intuition brand and future. Brewing capabilities are likely a large factor in the choice of location, but the ability to become an attraction, host events, be highly visible, and make more money from the taproom would make downtown or a doable walk from downtown (EHT Building) more attractive. Maxwell House is located in an ideal spot for the brewery and they seem to have no issues with transportation.

Intuition has only been open 18 months and is on the road to the bigtime. A friend of mine lives in Denver and was impressed with Intuition at this years Great American Beer Festival. The fact that they were already at a major national beer festival and want to already expand to major bottling, screams Downtown. Having a visible presence in downtown will make Intuition more well known locally and regionally. It will be a major catalyst for downtown revitalization. It will make Intuition one of the first things listed to do in DT. Here for a night at the Hyatt? Go check out Intuition Brewery. Entertaining people from out of town? Take them to dinner on the river and for a Brewery Tour. And so on.

I've been going to Bold City since they opened and will always have a special place in my heart for them, but if Intuition goes prime time with a downtown location that would take them to another level. It may be pricier up front than LaVilla, Brooklyn, and Springfield Warehouse District, but the free advertising that comes from being Downtown, coupled with the capability of hosting events/private parties, additional revenue from the taproom, and potential for brewery tours makes downtown a safer and more financially viable move long term.

MusicMan · May 20, 2012, 09:00:21 PM

My $.02.

1. Best spot would be somewhere between The Florida Theater and the Stadium. Would be a cool stand alone
attraction but also would benefit from all the events held in that area of downtown.

2. Springfield warehouse distict. Real cheap to get a huge existing structure there, buildout as necessary, access to rail lines and I -95. Would be a huge improvement to Springfield.

3. Hionides would be smart to GIVE them any parcel they wanted on Main Street north of downtown, because that would make all his other properties in that area worth more immediately.

4. Inside the YMCA on Riverside. Aren't they vacating that structure to build new on the river in that same location? Incredibly close to I 95.

BridgeTroll · May 21, 2012, 07:43:35 AM

The perfect place for a new brewery?? How about an old vacant, historic Jacksonville brewery?

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2007-aug-jax-beer-the-drink-of-friendship

thelakelander · May 21, 2012, 08:03:25 AM

Unfortunately, it's too far from downtown, which is where they really want to be.

BridgeTroll · May 21, 2012, 08:34:31 AM

Quote from: thelakelander on May 21, 2012, 08:03:25 AM
Unfortunately, it's too far from downtown, which is where they really want to be.

I figured that... but sure would be cool to put that facility to work brewing beer again...

mtraininjax · May 21, 2012, 10:44:25 AM

Would be great to see them in the Landing with a tie-in for a restaurant. Get Matthew's to build an M-Shack next to Intuition and add some more traffic to the Landing. Fionn MacCool's is proving it can survive, so should an Intuition/M-Shack. Tony would open up the 2nd floor for bigger tanks.

Intuition Ale Works · May 21, 2012, 01:27:59 PM

Thanks again for all the suggestions but I want to make our needs clear.

We are looking for a very large space, at least 15,000 sq/ft with more room for expansion and need 30' foot high ceilings for a majority of the space.
Plus we need an easily accessible dock high loading area

We are currently in a 12,000 warehouse and have outgrown in a year and a half. I will not be in the same situation again.

The library is an interesting option. It would give us room to grow, high ceilings, lack of A/C is not a negative as climate control is a waste in a Florida brewery, and the location is great.
But I think the lack of a legitimate loading and unloading area rules it out.

I really would love to go into an existing building but this is the second time I have targeted downtown and I am inclined to think building a new structure is the most realistic option.

Maybe there is a space that we could make taller? Not sure

I really hope we can make this happen. I want to help downtown's revitalization.

Ben

Tacachale · May 21, 2012, 01:38:54 PM

^Well, there are no shortage of vacant lots to build on downtown. That would be much needed infill as well.

Ben, have you looked over in the stadium district? It's not really the core of downtown, but it's close to it and there are quite a few industrial-zoned structures over there.

copperfiend · May 21, 2012, 01:56:50 PM

If you could get the library to work for you, it would be glorious.

Lunican · May 21, 2012, 02:33:48 PM

Is the loading dock between the old library and 11 East too small?

http://g.co/maps/h9p83

CityLife · May 21, 2012, 02:48:26 PM

Snapped some pics of the Library loading area a few minutes ago. It has access points to Adams and Forsyth. Its probably a tight fit though. Ben, I'm sure you've already looked at it, but is there anyway to work with this?

fieldafm · May 21, 2012, 03:17:42 PM

Quote from: Lunican on May 21, 2012, 02:33:48 PM
Is the loading dock between the old library and 11 East too small?

http://g.co/maps/h9p83

It's a pretty pisspoor design for what Intuition is looking to do. Go into some of the older grocery stores and see how inefficient it is to be making lots of right-angle turns when trying to load large and heavy pallets on to trucks.

fieldafm · May 21, 2012, 03:19:17 PM

QuoteI want to help downtown's revitalization.

You're not fooling anyone... you're only doing this because of the Mobility Fee Moratorium.

ben says · May 21, 2012, 03:19:59 PM

I think the old library would be a great spot. From what I hear, those guys want to get the building off their hands to the first good offer they get.

mtraininjax · May 21, 2012, 03:41:44 PM

The library is not a structurally sound building. That is one of the reasons they could not put all the books they wanted on the shelves, the density was not available because there are floor loads that the additional weight caused as an issue. They had many issues with doors not shutting properly and cracks due to excessive weight.

It would be a very expensive demo to remove the 1st floor to allow for access in the basement.

I know these things because I used to be a vendor with the JPL, before the wicked witch of the North, Barbara Gubbin canned all the old guard there. The Facilities guy is still with the JPL, he worked in the old buildings before moving to the new, he could fill you in on details, if you want. Stephen ? Good guy.