Renewal Brewing, a new craft brewery, held its grand opening on Thursday, June 6, with initial operating days to be Thursday through Sunday. The brewery is located at 32 Franklin Street in the heart of Uptown Martinsville. Owned and operated by Herb Atwell and Karl Herzberg,
The business aims to bring new energy into Martinsville’s Uptown area, according to a release.
A Multi-Phase Vision
The vision for Renewal began two years ago when Atwell and his wife Peggy Donivan were attending an evening event in Uptown Martinsville.
“We saw how vibrant it could be,” Donivan said. “It was a good crowd and a fun night. We looked over at Franklin Street and thought how great it would be to see all those storefronts lit up and open at night, to have places for the crowd to go once the event was over.”
Phase one of the brewery’s opening will feature a speakeasy and brewhouse in the basement level of the historic 1893 building that was constructed with Carnegie steel. The building, which has housed various businesses over the years including an A&P grocery store, has undergone a meticulous renovation and is now set to become a cornerstone of Uptown Martinsville’s revitalization.
The three-phase renovation and opening will celebrate Martinsville’s past, present, and future. The downstairs speakeasy, also known as the “Uptown Underground,” is complete with an upright grand piano from the early 1900s, which harkens back to Martinsville’s past.
Phase two, which the team hopes to complete later this year, will be a modern-day brewpub with food options, and phase three will be a rooftop space where, Atwell said, people will be able to look out at Martinsville and the mountains beyond and imagine what the future will hold for the city.
A Community Hub
Renewal Brewing takes its name from the owners’ hope that the brewery will inject new energy into Uptown Martinsville and help spur revitalization efforts in the area. The team aims to help increase foot traffic uptown by creating a lively and welcoming community space. The brewery features twelve unique craft beers on tap, all brewed on-site with Herzberg overseeing the brewery operations.
While Atwell and Donivan plan on a full schedule of live music, theme nights, and even dueling piano events, they also look forward to relaxed evenings where customers come to enjoy the cozy speakeasy vibe and enjoy time with friends. The space will also be available for private event rentals.
“We see what Martinsville can be,” Atwell said. “There’s potential here for everyone to thrive and grow. We hope that opening this brewery will inject new energy into Uptown and help spur on revitalization efforts. We want Martinsville to be a destination.”
To learn more, follow Renewal Brewing on Facebook for the most up-to-date hours and information.
