A new craft brewery is opening in Bucks County. The Newtown Brewing Company will be setting up in Newtown Township, and anticipates a summer 2019 opening, the owner confirmed to Patch.
Gregg Bonstein, Newtown Brewing Company owner, said the business has received full approval from Newtown Township to move forward on its plans for a brewery in the Newtown Business Commons (read “Summary of August 22, 2018, BOS Public Meeting” - includes video of comments from the Planning Commission chair).
Newtown Brewing Company will be located at 103 Penns Trail, and will share a 10,000-square-foot building with Sir Speedy. The brewery will have about 4,600 square-feet of space, with half of it dedicated to brewing, manufacturing, and warehouse uses, with the other half as a taproom open to the public, according to Bonstein.
Renovations to the building will begin in mid to late November, with a summer opening anticipated, said Bonstein.
The taproom will be open to the public from Wednesday to Sunday, with the following hours: Wednesday and Thursday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday 12 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Bonstein anticipates having 10 beers on tap, with a rotating schedule of lagers, IPAs, Belgians, wheat beers, stouts, pale ales, and some "fun experimental stuff." For those who prefer an alternative to beer, there will be cider, wines and spirits.
Bonstein said he has plans for a rotating food truck schedule, as well as other fun events like live music, trivia, movie nights and more. The space will also be available for private party bookings.
"Our plan is for the taproom area to a fun relaxed environment with close ties to the Newtown community," he said.
The issue of workers hired by restaurants in the newly renovated Village at Newtown Shopping Center was an issue raised at the February 26, 2020, Newtown Board of Supervisors Conditional Use Hearing for Bomba Tacos and Rum. The application called for 16 workers per shift, but Supervisor Calabro suggested they increase that number to 20 in case they needed to hire more workers.
I understand that Newtown Twp depends on Earned Income Tax from employees - up to 70% of our tax revenue comes from this source. But if all these restaurants hired the maximum allowable number of employees per shift, I am concerned that too many parking spots would be used by them and not available for shoppers or patrons even though owners encourage workers to park to park a good distance from their establishments!
BTW, Iron Hill Brewery's Conditional Use agreement stipulates that there will be a maximum of 38 employees per shift. 17 to 24 workers are expected for the first shift and 24 to 38 for the second shift.