Press Release:
Commercial real estate developer Six/Ten, LLC has completed a lease to pave the way for Winter Haven’s first craft beer brewery, Grove Roots Brewery (GRB). Six/Ten has begun renovating and restoring a 5,700 square-foot historic, industrial building to house the craft brewery production area, 100-seat tasting room, indoor stage and an outdoor beer garden. GRB is expected to open by mid 2016 at 300 Third Street S.W. in Downtown Winter Haven.
“We are excited about being a part of the rebirth of Downtown Winter Haven and want to help shape the vision,” said Joseph Dunham, creator of GRB. “As a Winter Haven native, I have great pride in our city and am excited to help make downtown the place to be.”
Dunham, who has always had a passion for home brewing, traded his job at an industrial engineering and construction firm to start GRB. He believes the brewery will celebrate the city’s strong connection to the citrus industry and contribute to the cultural revitalization of Winter Haven’s Downtown region.
“GRB will provide a community space where patrons are immersed in Winter Haven’s downtown culture, music, seasonal festivals, and taproom events,” said Dunham. “Our tasting room will let customers enjoy our artisanal ales while viewing the production process.”
For the past few years, Six/Ten has purchased, renovated and restored several downtown buildings in an effort to help bring new retail, restaurants and professionals to the area.
“We are all very excited to be a part of the city’s first craft brewery, and can feel a shared excitement among local residents,” said Six/Ten President Kerry Wilson. “Grove Roots will be an excellent addition to the growing number of dining and entertainment options in the redeveloping downtown core. As people have been saying for centuries, ‘we want beer!”
“The addition of Grove Roots to Winter Haven’s rapidly expanding dining, music, art and entertainment scene is very exciting. The revitalized downtown core is attracting entrepreneurs, patrons and visitors from across the county and beyond,” said Katie Worthington, President/CEO of the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce.