Mastry's Brewing Co. to build massive mixed-use brewery in Pinellas Park’s City Center District
/THE MIXED-USE FACILITY WILL FEATURE A BREWERY, RESTAURANTS, GREEN SPACES, AND OUTDOOR COMMON AREAS | mastry’s
St. Pete Beach’s first craft brewery Mastry's Brewing Co. is expanding its operations with a new manufacturing hub in Pinellas Park, serving as a centerpiece for the city’s emerging City Center District.
Matthew Dahm, founder and CEO of Mastry's Brewery, alongside partner Robert Czysczon of Plaza Beach Resorts, plans to build a new 5,000-plus-square-foot beverage manufacturing operation and a 16,000-square-foot market at 5805 Park Boulevard.
A SITE PLAN FOR THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT | MASTRY’S
The site redevelopment is a major stepping stone for Pinellas Park, which has long planned to establish a true "downtown" stretching across 15 city blocks. According to the 2050 comprehensive plan, the new City Center District will encompass a new City Hall, a Public Safety (law enforcement, fire and emergency services) facility, residential and commercial uses, and public parks.
"We have a unique opportunity to be immersed in a primarily residential area and build something new for the community with the upfront infrastructure," Dahm said.
Dahm is a third-generation Mastry. The Mastrys are a prominent family who’s held deep roots in St. Petersburg since the late 19th century.
Dahm founded Mastry's Brewing Co. in 2014, initially operating it as a brewpub in a family-owned restaurant. In 2016, the company opened a waterfront beer garden and brewhouse in St. Pete Beach, located at 7701 Blind Pass Road, which offers over 15 beers on tap.
Pre-pandemic, Dahm and Czysczon submitted a proposal to develop the site. The city then changed courses and listed the property for sale, and the partners resubmitted a new bid.
tHE NEW FACILITY WILL SERVE AS a centerpiece for the city’s emerging City Center District | MASTRY’S
The HQ campus will include craft beer tasting rooms, commissary kitchens, and event space with full audio and visual studios for product creations.
"We have also designed plans for multiple partners to bring restaurant concepts into the food hall market portion of the property," Dahm said about the latest proposal.
During a Tuesday, January 15th Pinellas County Commissioner meeting, the board members unanimously approved providing $1.624 million of Penny for Pinellas funds towards the nearly $10 million project.
The funds are made possible via the county's Employment Sites Program (ESP), which aims to financially support industrial and office redevelopments that will attract targeted businesses to the region.
"We've been interested in the site four years ago, but the pandemic set us back," Dahm said.
The construction cost has increased by 40 to 50% since the first evaluation in 2019. Dahm said the team needs to close the funding gap to move forward.
To date, the county has committed over $23 million in financial assistance for projects.
The newly-opened ARK Innovation Center and Orange Station, a mixed-use development planned for downtown St. Pete, are among the 20 developments the board has supported through the ESP.
Although the initial ESP application states the project will create 45 jobs, Dahm told commissioners the new HQ will generate well over 100 jobs.
The new facility and systems will ultimately triple Mastry's current manufacturing capabilities, increasing regional distribution.
The project is planned for 5805 Park Boulevard in pinellas park which is currently home to several underutilized buildings | google earth
Additionally, the larger space will allow the brewery to offer tours and extend its hands-on educational offerings to University of South Florida St. Petersburg students.
The project plans will go before the City of Pinellas Park in mid-March. Pending approval, Dahm said the team anticipates breaking ground in April and completing the project next year.
Dahm is working with the general contracting firm Sinclair Group and Greg Walden with BDG Architects.
Walden designed the original architectural drawing for the St. Pete Beach location.
