Sometime this fall, hopefully in October, Figurehead Brewing will be opening a new location (their second) at 3513 Stone Way, a few doors up from the Pacific Inn. I recently met with Bob Monroe, head brewer and owner of Figurehead at the new location, which is in the very early stages of a significant build-out.
The space was formerly used as a woodworking shop and more recently for storage, but has fallen into a state of disrepair that will require extensive work to get it up-and-running as a taproom. Figurehead is currently waiting on permits from the city to start the remodel, a process that is taking months at this point.
Figurehead’s vision for the space goes beyond pouring IPAs, porters, and saisons. Bob tells me that their mission is “to create connections with and between customers over quality beers.” The taproom will be all-ages, and in addition to serving Figurehead’s diverse selection of beers they will also be pouring kombucha, cider, nitro cold brew coffee, and sake.
The sake is a nod to the Japanese-inspired food that will be prepared and served onsite seven days a week. Midnite Ramen will have a food trailer inside the space, which will also have a commercial kitchen that will be used by both Midnite Ramen and Ooshiba Yakitori and Sushi.
Adjacent to Midnite Ramen’s trailer will be an outdoor beer garden, open to the sky but surrounded on three sides by the Figurehead space and on the fourth side by a neighboring building (which is currently for lease). Bob envisions sliding glass doors connecting the beer garden to the taproom, creating an indoor/outdoor flow when the weather is favorable. If possible, he would like to plant a tree in the middle of the beer garden, akin to the foliage poking skyward at The Whale Wins.
The early evolution of the beer garden (from brambled mess to the cleaner current version) can be viewed as a slideshow on Figurehead’s Stone Way-specific Instagram page, where Bob will also be posting future updates on the space’s remodel.
Figurehead signed a 10-year lease at the Stone Way location, so they’re in for the long haul. Bob says finding a space that would offer a long lease was not easy, but he is super excited that they have landed here. The location offers more foot traffic than does their brewery near Fisherman’s Terminal, and Bob is looking forward to appealing to the younger and more diverse population who lives and works near Stone Way by having music and other events in the new space.
It will be a bit of a wait to see Figurehead’s vision come to life, so in the meantime if you want to sample their beer, try the food from Midnite Ramen (on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays), and even paint along with Bob Ross once a month, head to their Magnolia location at 4001 21st Ave W. And be sure to check both the Instagram page and Figurehead’s website for updates on the new location. I hope to see all my neighbors there!