A Columbus brewpub honored as the best small brewery in the nation is about to get a lot bigger.
ZwanzigZ, known as a signature pizza and beer destination near downtown Columbus, is putting the finishing touches on a $3 million renovation project that has transformed a deteriorating warehouse at 12th and Jackson streets into a state-of-the-art craft brewery. It’s located just a few blocks from the well-known restaurant.
For ZwanzigZ fans, no significant changes at the restaurant itself are planned at 1038 Lafayette Ave., said Kurt and Lisa Zwanzig. The tap room there is being expanded and the full-service dining area is getting bigger too, but the well-known menu and beer selection won’t be changing.
The purchase and complete renovation of the nearby warehouse provides the owners with long-needed space to exponentially expand their craft brewing operation and make customer-centered improvements at the pizzeria, Lisa Zwanzig said.
Moving much of the craft brewing equipment at Zwanzig to the warehouse, but not all of it, will allow some rearranging of space for tables and more private spaces around the dining area and a revamp of the restrooms to make them bigger, the couple said.
ZwanzigZ customers may begin to notice these changes in the coming months.
The new warehouse once was the Sapps Bakery building — and later a furniture warehouse. It is being transformed into a modern and stylish craft brewery encompassing 11,000-square fee.
It will allow ZwanzigZ to brew up to 15 times more beer than the current configuration on Lafayette Avenue — 800 barrels a year — while still maintaining the ability to produce small, unique batches of beer, Kurt Zwanzig said.
The renovated warehouse will now be ZwanzigZ headquarters, a production brewing facility and a location for a tasting room and special-event space.
For the complete story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
