"Downtown Brunswick presents a unique small-town feel that you just can't get on the islands. It is a beautiful combination of historical foundation and new construction." - Brad Piazza, CEO of Port City Partners and newly appointed Ex-Officio member of the Golden Isles CVB.
In addition to the entities already mentioned, there are so many other businesses, individuals, and organizations contributing to the success of downtown Brunswick and its growth. The businesses in the SoGlo District and their owners deserve a great deal of credit, from those who have been long established and steadfast community members to the brave souls who committed to opening their doors downtown. Within the past five years, some significant development/construction projects have undeniably had an impact on Historic Downtown Brunswick and added to its appeal and there are more exciting plans in the works!
In 2018, Erik and Karin Vonk opened a Richland Rum distillery and tasting room at 1406 Newcastle, as a sister to their Richland GA location. Founded in 1999, Richland Rum makes the only single-estate rum in America using sugar cane harvested on the Richland estate and the results are award-winning! The distillery runs a retail store and distillery tours are offered so visitors can experience “America’s Best Rum.” For more info, visit richlandrum.com.
Following their establishment of Silver Bluff Brewing Company in 2017 and some immense work to get the property at 1325 Newcastle Street up and running, Golden Isles residents Chris and Ally Moline opened the craft brewery’s taproom and beer garden to the public in 2020. Together with their co-founders, the Molines have established the largest production brewery in Glynn County and the surrounding region, and they produce beer for both the taproom and for distribution, so now you can find tasty Silver Bluff beers virtually anywhere around town. Their flagship Mexican Lager received a Silver Medal at the prestigious 2020 U.S. Open Beer Championships. The casual cool atmosphere of the beer garden and taproom, as well as the variety of food trucks and live entertainment offered draws locals and visitors alike, making it a favorite gathering place for many. To see what’s on tap at Silver Bluff, visit silverbluff.com.
Port City Y'all logo created for Port City Partners by Commonground Creative
Port City Y'all
During First Friday in April 2021, Port City Partners unveiled Port City Park at 1315 Newcastle St. to the community. Since that time the intimate outdoor event space has hosted live music, food trucks, and community events. The park is just a small part of the Brunswick projects being accomplished by the development startup headed by Brad and Lizzie Piazza, who have strong family ties to Brunswick and the Golden Isles. Their transformation of the historic Leotis Building at 201 Gloucester Street into Port City Lofts is nothing short of remarkable. The mixed-use space offers upscale residential lofts (now in the pre-leasing stage), fitness center, gorgeous art gallery and event space, flex workspace and lounge area, and leasable commercial space. This extensive project is a 2022 Nominee for the Georgia Trust for Preservation Award and Brad says it’s just a launching point.
Port City Partners builds on decades of experience in commercial real estate, development, and property management. Their downtown projects include new construction, strategic Federal Opportunity Zone investment, historic tax credit deals, and philanthropically minded growth. Other Port City Partners developments include a 20,000 sq. ft. indoor-outdoor event venue at 1311 Grant Street that will soon be available for bookings and Port City Apartments at 2307 Gloucester Street. Brad says, “Port City Partners is very proud to be a part of the grown of downtown Brunswick. We have many ideas that we would love to share, but for now we are excited to say that Bubba Garcia's, multi-faceted workspace, a luxury event venue, and maybe even a rooftop bar or two are on the horizon for the area! There are no limits to the future potential in downtown Brunswick.” Learn more about Port City Partners and their plans at portcitybrunswick.com.
Another historic transformation is underway at The Kress Brunswick at 1505 Newcastle Street. Glynn County native Tommy McGraw is bringing his vision to the renovation of the site of the historic “five and dime” store that many residents still remember for its lunch counter. The building’s first floor will feature retail space and Brunswick Rocks, a non-profit bouldering gym operated by Southeast Adventure Outfitters. SEA owner Michael Gowen describes the gym as having “a mission to provide a fun learning environment for self-improvement and self-confidence, promoting health and fitness for anyone of all abilities.” He continues, “It’s our intention to work with other community partners to provide a place where kids can be kids, progress at their own pace, learn that effort equals improvement, and ultimately provide opportunities beyond the gym.” Memberships will be available, as will sponsorships and opportunities to help other non-profits in exchange for monthly dues.” Short term rental units will be offered on the second floor. The third floor will feature as restaurant with rooftop terrace.
Tommy expresses his hopes for the space on The Kress Brunswick website: “With the support of our local community, we hope that The Kress Brunswick will help to accelerate the growth of the downtown area by providing experiences unique to the Golden Isles. We believe that creating inviting locations for our guests will provide the opportunity to show off exactly what makes Brunswick so special. We want to make sure that this investment is for the benefit of our neighborhood as a whole and that the result is a space we can all use with pride.” Take a look at what’s coming at kressbrunswick.com.
It's truly exciting to see so many creative and motivated individuals working on a common goal of building a better Brunswick that attracts more people to visit, work, and live there.
