The city is reviewing a building permit application for the site of Ruby Beach Brewing Co. at 228 E. Forsyth St. Downtown.
The application is for the first phase of what is referred to as the Forsyth Brewery renovation at a cost of $500,000, according to WJCT News partner the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Ruby Beach owner Zeta Jax Inc. was the first business approved for a forgivable loan under the Downtown Investment Authority’s new Food and Beverage Retail Enhancement Program.
The board unanimously approved the Downtown brewery for the $75,000 loan June 17 minutes after it voted 8-0 to authorize the food and beverage incentive program.
The public money will help with build-out costs for its taproom, second-floor event room, beer garden and outdoor patio space under development, according to documents filed by the brewery with the DIA.
Zeta Jax Inc. and building owner 228 Forsyth Inc. were co-applicants for the grant. It would cover 22.2% of the $337,100 development cost for phase two of Ruby Beach’s Downtown location, the DIA staff report states.
Zeta Jax President Mark Vandeloo announced the relocation of the brewery from Jacksonville Beach in February. In a June 4 email, he said Ruby Beach will be able to begin brewing at the Downtown location in one to two weeks.
Read an expanded version of this story at @JaxDailyRecord.com.
