It has been a long road for Tom Williams and St. Pete Brewing Company. When Williams first decided to open a brewery, there were none in St. Petersburg. By the time St. Pete Brewing debuted in 2014, they were number five.

The original plan was to open at Baywalk. But then in 2011, the plaza was purchased and shut down to undergo extensive renovations for what would later become Sundial.

And so, the search to find a home for St. Pete Brewing began again. Eventually, Williams ended up purchasing a building at 544 1st Avenue North in 2012. Williams decided to move his financing company, eLease, into 1,500 square feet and open St. Pete Brewing in the remaining 2,400 square feet.

St. Pete Brewing was an instant hit thanks, in part, to Partner and Head Brewer Jon McCracken. Two of his signature beers, Orange Wheat Ale and Milo’s IPA, proved to be a success and can now be found in cans all over the west coast of Florida as well as on tap year-round in the tasting room.

A few years after the brewery opened, Beans and Barlour, a craft coffee bar and dessert lounge, moved in next door. However recently, the shop famous for their boozy ice cream packed up and moved to 407 Central Avenue.

With the space next to St. Pete Brewing empty for the first time in years, Williams knew exactly what he wanted to do. Expand the brewery.

“Since the very beginning, we’ve had so many people wanting to rent out the brewery for special events. It has always been our Achilles heel,” said Williams. “With the expansion, we will be able to throw events without having to close the brewery to the public.”

The new addition will increase the size of the tasting room by 1,500 square feet, thereby doubling the seating capacity. And when the expansion isn’t being used for events, it’ll be open to the public.

“I want the expansion to be a different experience,” said Williams. “Although specific design elements are still being decided, I think it’ll be more of a lounge atmosphere. Right now, everything in the brewery is metal, so the new lounge area will be much more comfortable.”

The new space will connect to the existing tasting room through an open passageway located near the entrance. A mural that local artist Alyssa Marie completed last year on the tasting room’s wall will be staying.

“We are so excited to be growing in St. Petersburg,” said Williams. “We want to continue to focus on the tasting room experience, what it means to be downtown, and how we can complement the city."

Build out has already begun on the expansion and is expected to be open to the public by November 1st. If you want to throw a company holiday party or any other celebration, fill out this contact form to reserve a date.

Be sure to visit the tasting room at 544 1st Avenue North in downtown St. Pete, which is expected to remain open during the expansion. Now that Fall has begun, you can find St. Pete Brewing’s Octoberfest and Drop Dead GOURDeous, a pumpkin/yam beer, available in the tasting room.