Beer mogul discusses new brewpub at Historic Kennett Square meeting
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Bill Covaleski, co-founder of the Victory Brewing Company, describes his excitement about opening a brewpub in Kennett Square.
On a frigid night, an area entrepreneur who discussed cold, hard facts got a warm reception at the annual meeting for Historic Kennett Square.
The gathering, which drew a crowd of about 100 to the Market at Liberty Place on Thursday, Jan. 23, offered both a year in review and a look forward to new initiatives in the borough. One of them, Magnolia Place, represents a partnership that includes the Victory Brewing Company and Kennett Realty, owned by the Pia family, well-known as the fourth-generation operators of Kaolin Mushroom Farm.
Plans call for a four-story building with 79 town homes and twins anchored by an upscale 250-seat brewpub, with on-premise brewing, a takeout beer component, and space for outdoor dining. Victory, the nation’s 26th largest craft brewery, will occupy all of the bottom floor, approximately 8,100 square feet.
David B. Myers, newly elected president of Historic Kennett Square, addresses the crowd at the Market at Liberty Place.
Begun by Bill Covaleski and Ron Barchet, childhood friends who met on a school bus in 1973, Victory formally debuted in February 1996 in Downingtown; its beers are now available in 30 states. Covaleski, the guest speaker at Thursday night’s meeting, said the appreciative audience in Kennett Square served as a welcome contrast to some of the company’s early struggles.
Nearly two decades ago, Covaleski recalled attending a Downingtown Borough Zoning Hearing Board meeting in in April 1995, hoping to get a variance to construct the first Victory Brewing operation. He said he was met outside by the zoning hearing officer, who whispered: “It’s a packed house.”
Covaleski, describing himself as “greener than green” – and not in the environmental sense – said he responded: “That’s good, right?” The official replied: “Generally, no.” After a raucous evening of hearing people’s concerns, which ranged from beer bottles littered on lawns to an increase in teen pregnancy, Covaleski said he got quite an education.
“I learned the art of listening,” he said. “It’s easy to fear what you don’t know.” Since that time, Victory has flourished in Downingtown, where neighbors became “very supportive,” he said. When mulling the decision about where to expand, Covaleski said Kennett Square offered the advantage of an enthusiastic and time-tested beer culture, evident with the success of the borough’s annual sold-out beer festivals.
The Market at Liberty Place hosted the annual meeting of Historic Kennett Square.
But Covaleski said Victory had no interest in coming into Kennett and competing with existing businesses. What sealed the deal was the exciting opportunity to partner with operatives who have deep agricultural roots in the community and wanted to pursue a project that would bring new residents to the borough, he said.
Covaleski said several housing units have already sold and he hopes to open the brewpub during the summer, weather permitting.
In other business, Historic Kennett Square, a downtown revitalization organization, announced its new officers: President David B. Myers, who can now be spotted around town courtesy of his 444 license plate; Vice President Nicole Grebloskie; and Treasurer Brant Kucera, who also serves as the borough’s manager. They will be joined on the board by Tom Sausen, who was appointed to a three-year term and will replace outgoing board member Chad Fenstermacher, who was applauded for his years of service.
Myers, Anita D’Amico, Daniel Gannon, and Mike Pia Jr. were reappointed to three-year terms. Other board members are Ginger Meadows, Jonathan Jordan, Maria Navarrete Olvera, Marnie Conley, Tara Dugan, Thomas C. Swett, Tony Poluch, Jr., and Carrie Freeman.
