Best Real Estate Deals: Florida Avenue Brewing is a top reuse/rehab project
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Dec 17, 2021

Florida Avenue Brewing Co. renovated an abandoned 38,000-square-foot athletic facility in Wesley Chapel to create a new brewery.

The developer worked with Pasco County and the Pasco County EDC to make changes to the land use and zoning for the area. The EDC awarded an economic incentive package in exchange for the creation of 46 manufacturing jobs.

There were a variety of hurdles, including finding a way to convert a basketball court into a brewery, which required special mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. However, the company spent more than $10 million to renovate the building and was able to successfully create a unique facility.

The athletic building was transformed into a prestigious beer garden that includes a full-service restaurant and private event space. The expansion also brings “increased capabilities for packaging and distribution and corporate offices," submission materials said.

Key players

Brokerage firm: Krauss Organization Inc., Joe Seidle

Law firm: Fletcher Fischer Pollack, Anne Pollack

Architect: ASD|SKY, Ken Cowart

General contractor: The Sinclair Group, Terence Troyer

Engineer: Kimley Horn, Artie Cintron

Financier: Valley Bank, Linda Hinze

Owner/developer: Specialty Malls of Tampa Inc., Joe Redner

Tenant: Florida Avenue Brewing Co., Anthony Derby

Other critical team: Pasco EDC, Bill Cronin; Pasco County Commissioner, Mike Moore; RSA Consulting LLC, Natalie King

Big numbers

176: The number of combined manufacturing and restaurant jobs created by the new Florida Avenue Brewery

$10 million: The approximate cost to renovate the facility

38,000: The approximate square footage of the abandoned athletic facility that was renovated into the new brewery

Biggest challenge

“Anne, the land-use attorney, was instrumental in getting the zoning changes addressed and passed by Pasco County,” honorees said. “In addition, Kimley Horn had to design a new storm pipe for the property to divert stormwater from the beer garden. There were several construction challenges when you convert an athletic facility to a brewery and restaurant.”