When What Now New Orleans spoke to Port Orleans Brewing Company last month about a change to their brewery, we were told to expect a big announcement. Well, that announcement is here and it’s a doozy.
The brewing company is planning to open a three-floor brewpub in Gretna, which will be the anchor tenant in a large multi-use complex. The start of construction is scheduled for early 2024 and the opening is projected for the middle of 2025.
The brewpub will occupy around 4,700 square feet, with restaurant space on the first floor and a mezzanine on the second floor that will feature a pinball arcade. A third-floor penthouse level and event space will offer views of the New Orleans skyline, retro décor, and music courtesy of vinyl record players. There will also be outdoor grounds and a beer garden, with yard games and a fire pit. Avo Taco operates the kitchen in the current Port Orleans brewery, and the taqueria is in talks to open a second location in the new brewpub.
Port Orleans is planning to lease the space in the new complex, which is being built via the Jefferson Facilities Inc. economic development agency. The complex will also have a separate restaurant, barbershop, and green space for outdoor events. The budget for the project is more than $20 million. In September, What Now New Orleans reported that the current Port Orleans brewery would pivot to more of a restaurant focus. It’s a small but significant shift for the brewing company that launched in 2017.
