The Patriot-News August 10, 2006

Building on Their Brew Craft beers propel pub operator's growth

 By Angela Pomponio 

It all started when Jack Sproch experimented with a beer-brewing kit in his home.

Proud of his first batch of steam beer, Sproch shared some of his brews one night with longtime friend Shawn Gallagher. A few beers later, Sproch -- a computer consultant -- and Gallagher -- a manufacturer of traffic-control devices -- began talking about someday opening a brew pub.

"The next day, I called Shawn and both of us were asking if the other was serious about it," Sproch said. "We both said,

'Yes, I'm serious.'"

Were they ever.

Almost 12 years later, Sproch and Gallagher own the Appalachian Brewing Co., with pubs at 50 N. Cameron St. in Harrisburg and along Buford Avenue in Gettysburg. A third pub and eatery opened at 3721 Market St. in Hampden Twp. on Friday, and a fourth is planned near the Mountville exit of Route 30 in West Hempfield Twp., Lancaster County.

Key to their success was the risk they took in 1995 when they bought the 50,000-square-foot building on Cameron Street for $1 from the city.

The former warehouse was just what they were looking for -- an old building with character -- but it was in a blighted section of the city. The building would have to be gutted and refurbished to the tune of $1.6 million.

"It was in really bad shape. The windows were broken, there were pigeons everywhere. There were homeless people living in it," Sproch said. It was renovated over two years with the help of low-interest loans and friends.

While on a ski trip in Steamboat Springs, Colo., Sproch met Artie Tafoya, who owned a microbrewery near the slopes. When Sproch returned to the midstate, he called Tafoya and offered to fly him in to see the building. Tafoya came, took one look at the circa-1915 building and agreed that it was the perfect site for a brewery.

But Tafoya said he also told Sproch and Gallagher something they didn't want to hear. "I remember telling them, 'You guys are crazy if you do this,'" Tafoya said.

At the time, restaurants were folding in the city faster than they were opening.

Still, Sproch and Gallagher forged ahead. In 1997, they opened the doors to a brewery and restaurant that is one of the largest of its kind in the nation.

Appalachian Brewing produces six "flagship" beers, including Jolly Scot Scottish Ale, Mountain Lager and Susquehanna Stout. Twelve other beers, including one named after Harrisburg's Kipona Fest, are each served for one month during the year.

Tafoya was so impressed with the partners' vision that he sold his brew pub, moved to central Pennsylvania and became director of operations for Appalachian Brewing.

Last week, Tafoya hung a large photograph of the Harrisburg brew pub near the front door of the Hampden Twp. pub and restaurant, which the owners believe will bridge a gap between the West and East shores.

"Some people won't come into the city to eat. It's just something they don't do," Gallagher said as workers put the finishing touches on the 150-seat restaurant with brewing tanks that will produce two types of beer a month.

The company's success is just what brewing historian Rich Wagner of Hatboro likes to see.

"It's great to bring brewing back to the prominence it once had in Pennsylvania," Wagner said. "There are so many positives. Anytime you can take a building that's not being used and turn it into a successful business, that's so good for tourism."

Wagner runs the Web site www.pabreweryhistorians.tripod.com and leads tours of breweries.

Sproch and Gallagher plan to update their brewing operations in Harrisburg so the company can produce more beer and support future ventures. Eventually, they hope to have about 10 pubs, some of which could be franchises.

Although other businesses have not joined them on Cameron Street as they had hoped, Sproch and Gallagher believe their investment helped spark a restaurant resurgence throughout the city.

"I think our existence made Harrisburg a destination to come to eat," Gallagher said. "People seek out brew pubs all over the world."

Milissa Barrick, director of administration for the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District, said that in 1999, the city had only a handful of restaurants. Now, there are nearly 100, many of which are thriving along Restaurant Row on Second Street. The presence of Appalachian Brewing certainly helped, Barrick said.

"No one wants to be first," Barrick said of the company's venture in Harrisburg. "Growth promotes growth, and success breeds success. Others can see that."

The Patriot-News
By Dan Gleiter

Photo Caption. Patrons enter the new Appalachian Brewing Co. brew pub on Carlisle Pike in Hampden Twp. last week. Above, glasses of beer fresh from the tap await delivery to customers. Nicole Tomcanin of Linglestown, a server at Appalachian Brewing Co. in Hampden Twp., shows dessert choices to customers, from left, Laurie McDowell of New Cumberland, Bria Harner of Hummelstown and Bridgett Rheam of Camp Hill.

The Patriot-News August 10, 2006

 By Angela Pomponio 

BUILDING ON THEIR BREW // Craft beers propel pub operator's growth

It all started when Jack Sproch experimented with a beer-brewing kit in his home.

Proud of his first batch of steam beer, Sproch shared some of his brews one night with longtime friend Shawn Gallagher. A few beers later, Sproch -- a computer consultant -- and Gallagher -- a manufacturer of traffic-control devices -- began talking about someday opening a brew pub.

"The next day, I called Shawn and both of us were asking if the other was serious about it," Sproch said. "We both said,

'Yes, I'm serious.'"

Were they ever.

Almost 12 years later, Sproch and Gallagher own the Appalachian Brewing Co., with pubs at 50 N. Cameron St. in Harrisburg and along Buford Avenue in Gettysburg. A third pub and eatery opened at 3721 Market St. in Hampden Twp. on Friday, and a fourth is planned near the Mountville exit of Route 30 in West Hempfield Twp., Lancaster County.

Key to their success was the risk they took in 1995 when they bought the 50,000-square-foot building on Cameron Street for $1 from the city.

The former warehouse was just what they were looking for -- an old building with character -- but it was in a blighted section of the city. The building would have to be gutted and refurbished to the tune of $1.6 million.

"It was in really bad shape. The windows were broken, there were pigeons everywhere. There were homeless people living in it," Sproch said. It was renovated over two years with the help of low-interest loans and friends.

While on a ski trip in Steamboat Springs, Colo., Sproch met Artie Tafoya, who owned a microbrewery near the slopes. When Sproch returned to the midstate, he called Tafoya and offered to fly him in to see the building. Tafoya came, took one look at the circa-1915 building and agreed that it was the perfect site for a brewery.

But Tafoya said he also told Sproch and Gallagher something they didn't want to hear. "I remember telling them, 'You guys are crazy if you do this,'" Tafoya said.

At the time, restaurants were folding in the city faster than they were opening.

Still, Sproch and Gallagher forged ahead. In 1997, they opened the doors to a brewery and restaurant that is one of the largest of its kind in the nation.

Appalachian Brewing produces six "flagship" beers, including Jolly Scot Scottish Ale, Mountain Lager and Susquehanna Stout. Twelve other beers, including one named after Harrisburg's Kipona Fest, are each served for one month during the year.

Tafoya was so impressed with the partners' vision that he sold his brew pub, moved to central Pennsylvania and became director of operations for Appalachian Brewing.

Last week, Tafoya hung a large photograph of the Harrisburg brew pub near the front door of the Hampden Twp. pub and restaurant, which the owners believe will bridge a gap between the West and East shores.

"Some people won't come into the city to eat. It's just something they don't do," Gallagher said as workers put the finishing touches on the 150-seat restaurant with brewing tanks that will produce two types of beer a month.

The company's success is just what brewing historian Rich Wagner of Hatboro likes to see.

"It's great to bring brewing back to the prominence it once had in Pennsylvania," Wagner said. "There are so many positives. Anytime you can take a building that's not being used and turn it into a successful business, that's so good for tourism."

Wagner runs the Web site www.pabreweryhistorians.tripod.com and leads tours of breweries.

Sproch and Gallagher plan to update their brewing operations in Harrisburg so the company can produce more beer and support future ventures. Eventually, they hope to have about 10 pubs, some of which could be franchises.

Although other businesses have not joined them on Cameron Street as they had hoped, Sproch and Gallagher believe their investment helped spark a restaurant resurgence throughout the city.

"I think our existence made Harrisburg a destination to come to eat," Gallagher said. "People seek out brew pubs all over the world."

Milissa Barrick, director of administration for the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District, said that in 1999, the city had only a handful of restaurants. Now, there are nearly 100, many of which are thriving along Restaurant Row on Second Street. The presence of Appalachian Brewing certainly helped, Barrick said.

"No one wants to be first," Barrick said of the company's venture in Harrisburg. "Growth promotes growth, and success breeds success. Others can see that."

The Patriot-News

By Dan Gleiter

Photo Caption. Patrons enter the new Appalachian Brewing Co. brew pub on Carlisle Pike in Hampden Twp. last week. Above, glasses of beer fresh from the tap await delivery to customers. Nicole Tomcanin of Linglestown, a server at Appalachian Brewing Co. in Hampden Twp., shows dessert choices to customers, from left, Laurie McDowell of New Cumberland, Bria Harner of Hummelstown and Bridgett Rheam of Camp Hill.

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