Joseph Baucum

jbaucum@pnj.com

Downtown Pensacola could welcome the opening of two new businesses among its roster of attractions at various points this summer, which include a craft brewery at 50 E. Garden St. and a cigar bar at 14 Palafox Place.

D.C. Reeves, the co-founder and co-owner of Perfect Plain Brewing Co., said although plans remain tentative and could eventually change, he anticipates the brewery opening in late summer, possibly in July or August. The venue will span about 5,400 square feet at the building formerly occupied by Vowell's Printing. The printing company has since relocated to 1233 Barrancas Ave.

Reeves, who also serves as the operations director of Studer Family of Companies, heads a group comprised of managers and investors from the Pensacola region who have sought to expand the city's craft beer identity. The group's ownership includes Chicago Bears offensive lineman and Pensacola native Josh Sitton. Reeves said he expects the brewery to offer a rotation of eight to 12 beer styles throughout the year depending on the season.

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"There’s already great bars here and great places people like to go," Reeves said. "As we see this awesome growth downtown, we just want to add to that and put our spin on making Pensacola a fun place and fun destination."

The group derived the brewery's name from a letter written by former first lady Rachel Jackson, wife of President Andrew Jackson. Accompanying her husband during the president's acceptance of the transfer of Spanish West Florida to the United States in Pensacola in 1821, Jackson wrote home describing the area as "a perfect plain." Reeves said his group selected the name to honor the city of their upbringing, but he also confessed the source for the brewery's namesake was not without its irony.

"The irony is Rachel Jackson, who was a devout Presbyterian, ended up not liking Pensacola because everyone drank and gambled and cursed on Sundays," he said.

In addition to the interior, which will feature an open-air space with no barrier separating customers from the bar's 10-barrel brewing system, the group has planned for an expanded outdoor space along Garden Street and also has long-term designs on a beer garden space in the back of the building. The group currently has not incorporated a food menu among its plans, but Reeves said they might rent a space on their private property to a food truck on weekends, offer appetizers or allow customers to bring in their own food.

Downtown should also see the opening of a new cigar bar with full liquor service. David Sharruf, founder and owner of Cigar Factory New Orleans, expects to add another location among his fleet of cigar bars, which already includes two in New Orleans and another in Destin.

Sharruf said the new site on Palafox Street will comprise a first-floor area of about 25,000 square feet. It will include a cigar factory and lounge combination, with a game room in the back, an outside patio space and a "hip and industrial" ambiance that makes use of the brick interiors. He projects the renovations to be completed in June, at which point the bar would start operations. The business would then undergo its second phase of construction with work on the building's second floor, which would eventually serve to host private events.

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Although he still requires the necessary permits, Sharruf intends to employ multiple cigar makers at the establishment. Among those he anticipates hosting for private events, he said the second floor could offer an ideal space for weddings, bachelor parties or military retirement parties. Having grown up in San Diego, Pensacola's military influence reminded him of his hometown. He said the recent revitalization of downtown attracted him to the city.

"Now, downtown Pensacola is becoming the place where you want to be," Sharruf said. "I think it’s so cool. I’m stoked to be there."

The Pensacola Architectural Review Board will review approval requests from both businesses Feb. 16.

Reeves, whose group also intends to integrate an aspect of contributing back to the community as part of the brewery, echoed Sharruf's sentiments about downtown's growth. He also opened the possibility of his business seeking to collaborate with the city's other craft breweries in the future.

"That’s part of the spirit of that industry, being inclusive and collaborative," he said. "I hope we grow the scope of craft beer fans in Pensacola and that we bring more attention to something we’re excited about and that we grow it as a culture."

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