Greater Harrisburg's Community Magazine

Beer Here: Crave & Co. Cleared for Brewery

A few tables at Crave and Co., where you soon may enjoy homemade soup and home-brewed beer.

The interior of Crave & Co.

By this time next year, you may be sipping beer at Crave & Co., as the downtown Harrisburg eatery has received the city’s all clear to open a nano-brewery.

Owner Kristin Messner-Baker said today that the city reversed itself, deciding that the brewery could operate by right—without the need for a zoning variance.

“We were all shocked by this,” she said. “Now, we’re just really excited to start.”

Two weeks ago, Messner-Baker and brewer Kristen Richards received the approval of the city’s Planning Commission and were due to make their case before the Zoning Hearing Board.

However, in the interim, city Solicitor Neil Grover informed them that the city had determined that their planned nano-brewery at 614 N. 2nd St. did not need special zoning permission to operate, said Messner-Baker. Grover could not be reached for comment.

Richards said she will simply move her existing, automated home-brewing system to the basement of Crave & Co., where she will produce fewer than 1,000 gallons a year, which will be sold only by the glass and in growlers for on-site consumption and take-away.

Messner-Baker said that the Crave & Co. Brew Works likely still will not open until early next year, as federal and state permissions will take time, as will the transformation of the empty Crave & Co. basement to beer-making space.

Separately, Crave & Co. plans to extend its hours starting in mid-June. The organic and vegetarian eatery will open for dinner on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. It currently closes at 2 p.m.

 

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