River Rock Taphouse Inc. plans to open late this month in the former Spokane Chronicle newspaper printing room, in the Chronicle Building, at 926 W. Sprague downtown.

The business is co-owned by Spokane couple Mike and Denise Magee, who have both worked in the restaurant and bar industry for years.

“I’ve always had a passion for craft beer and brewed my own for a while,” says Mike Magee. “We kind of wanted to open a brewery, but this was a bit less cost prohibitive. We also really love supporting the local scene and the community, so we thought this would be a great way to get involved.”

Magee says River Rock Taphouse will occupy a 3,500-square-foot space on the building’s first floor, directly across the hallway from Terra Blanca’s tasting room.

He says the previously vacant space was redesigned by the couple’s architect friend Jay Pearson and is being remodeled by Spokane-based Local Enhancements LLC.

“We’re keeping some of the original tile, pillars, and molding, but we’ve also added some really cool new features,” he says. “We plan to have seating for about 140 people, plus a backroom space that’s available for parties and special events.”

The tap house will offer 32 craft beer varieties, along with wine, ciders, and kombucha, which is fermented tea. He says beverages can also be purchased in 32-ounce or 64-ounce growlers to go.

“Our focus will be on local brewers,” says Magee. “There are some really great local breweries and wineries here, but sales can be tough, so we strongly believe in supporting them when we can.”

Magee says River Rock Taphouse’s kitchen also will focus on using local ingredients, offering a variety of appetizers, main dishes, and salads.

“We plan to have between eight and 10 employees, and hope to be open by late this month,” he says.