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The seating area out front of Grass Valley Brewing Co. is getting a facelift.
Construction on the project began less than two weeks ago, and the intention of the renovation is to allow more outdoor seating while not obstructing traffic flow. Additionally, it will fit right in with the renovations the city of Grass Valley has been implementing in recent years.
“Basically the city is trying to enhance not only Mill Street but West and East Main and the city came to us and asked if we ever thought about putting in an outdoor seating area,” said Chris DeSena, an owning partner in the brewery. “And we had. We started working on this a couple years ago and we came up with an outdoor seating area.”
DeSena added that the sidewalk will be pushed out, eliminating two parking spaces. Grass Valley Brewing will continue to pay a lease on those spots.
“We are moving the sidewalk out and creating a seating area between the sidewalk and the building,” DeSena said.
Grass Valley City Engineer Bjorn Jones has had a part in the project and explained that the parklet, as they are called, is part of Grass Valley’s downtown renovation project, mirroring similar parklets in front of businesses like Cirino’s and BrewBakers.
“It’s a similar parklet; a public seating with the right of way, as you see up on West Main,” Jones said. “So the sidewalk will basically wrap around the seating area.”
The costs of the project are being divided between the city and Grass Valley Brewing.
“Were splitting it,” said DeSena. “The city is taking care of the sidewalk project and the brewery is taking care of everything within the seating area portion.”
Jones concurs. “It’s kind of a cooperative project and the city’s helping with the funding for the sidewalk but it’s primarily development driven so the brewery is managing the contractor. I know they’re trying to get it done as soon as possible.”
Much of the outdoor seating was a result of the COVID pandemic, which forced social distancing.
“A lot of it was an offshoot of COVID and outdoor dining,” Jones said. “Outside dining areas popped up everywhere. I wouldn‘t say we went to them and said ‘hey would you do that’ but we made it easier for people to go that route.”
The first phase of pouring concrete will begin today, and Jones said the construction process—which does not have a set deadline—has proven a greater challenge than he would have thought.
“This one turned out to be quite tricky as far as engineering and construction in general,” he said. “There’s a lot going on in the location. It’s a breaking point so you have drainage concerns, multiple entrances into the building…so there’s a lot of nuances that make the construction difficult.
“The brewery did hire an engineer to design the layout and of course it’s always evolving as the construction continues,” Jones said. “The biggest concern is not blocking off traffic. (They’ve) removed some of the pavement and curb and gutter and removed a portion on the right of way so we can keep a path of travel around the area. Then they’ll start ripping out closer to the building.”
According to DeSena, the design will replicate that of the Mill Street Plaza, including the railings. The seating comes at the right time for the brewery, who recently took over their own kitchen and are serving food they are as proud of as their beer.
“We opened up our kitchen last month it is under our ownership and we are happy to serve the food we want and create the pricing that benefits families,” DeSena said. “It’s doing really well.”
Jones added: “I would think it brings a certain charm to downtown, a visibility to see people out in front of the restaurant and it feels like more things are happening, to me.”
Staff Writer Jennifer Nobles can be reached at jnobles@theunion.com.
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