Major Renovation Announced For The Hops Company In Derby

DERBY, CT — When Owner Umberto Morale first opened The Hops Company in 2015 as a beer garden, located just off the Merritt Parkway on Sodom Lane, he drew from his family's Italian culture to create a space where people of all ages could enjoy themselves and celebrate together.

Nearly 10 years later, THC's beer garden has become a go-to place for many regulars to enjoy time together and celebrate seasonal events with large groups of friends and family.

"I moved here in the early 90's and I always missed the place like an Italian piazza where people could gather, different generations, at the same time," Morale said. "That's always been a joy, when I'm sitting in the back of the beer garden and I see the crowd and see four generations of people here for St. Patrick's Day or Oktoberfest or just to have a birthday party."

Morale was also able to set up a stunning wedding venue and event space on the second half of the large property, which soon became a major part of his family business that grew significantly in recent years.

"We're fully booked for each event," Morale said to Patch. "It grew over the last seven or eight years. We're turning away business, so we started to consider a lifestyle change for everybody where we are just concentrating on events."

Last month, THC announced on its website the venue's beloved beer garden will close for a full renovation in January.

"When we reopen in March 2025, it will have a brand new look and identity as 'The Lodge at The Hops' — an unparalleled setting for weddings, corporate gatherings, galas, and more," the announcement reads.

Once work is finished, THC plans to have two venues with enchanting private gardens, waterfalls, fire pits and a New England ambiance.

"While we're shifting our focus to events, we'll remain open to the public for special occasions like our charitable fundraisers and other holiday celebrations," the Hops Company announcement reads, "and who knows, the beer garden may even make a comeback in the future!"

Morale said the shift to a more events-focused business was also necessary for his family due to the hours and work required to run a large beer garden and an event space simultaneously.

While THC will mostly operate as an event space, Morale said he still plans to have the venue "open from time to time to the public" for major events, the details of which are still being worked out.

Though some fans of the beer garden have been disappointed to learn of the change, Morale also noted many of them are now talking about having their own wedding or big events at THC.

According to Morale, the beer garden area will soon more closely resemble his current existing event space.

"We're adding new bathrooms, new flooring, new entrances, new bar," Morale said. "The old look is going to change, and the same thing with the outside, because it's got a huge outside area too."

Morale noted the renovations, which are already underway, are mostly cosmetic, so work should not take longer than a couple of months. THC already has weddings booked at the new venue.

He also noted the two venues will be completely separate from each other, which will enable them to have two weddings going on at the same time without any interference or sharing any space.

"We offer a lot of exclusivities to customers to really have a wedding the way they want," Morale said, "your wedding your way."

The changes to the beer garden will also mean the loss of a popular Zuppardi's Apizza satellite location at THC, which will close by the end of the year.

In a lengthy statement posted to the pizzeria's Facebook page in November, Zuppardi's owners said with "bittersweet emotion" the popular Derby location will close its doors to the public Jan. 1, 2025, as THC's beer garden undergoes a full-scale renovation and continues its operations primarily as an event space.

The owners also noted Zuppardi's will still offer catering options to THC clients, however their day-to-day service will no longer be available there.

"Our time at THC was truly remarkable," the owners wrote on Facebook. "What began as a small operation, working out of our pizza truck, blossomed into a full kitchen and catering operation. That would not have been made possible without the support of a number of people."

Zuppardi's thanked the entire team at The Hops Company for their partnership and support over the past nine years.

"We wish you good health, happiness, and the best of luck with your future endeavors," the owners said.

Morale shared Zuppardi's sentiments that the closure was bittersweet. He noted the two businesses were always a great match for each other due to both of them being family-run.

As he prepares for this new chapter at THC, Morale expressed gratitude for all the support he and his family have received thus far for nearly a decade.

"To the ones who are upset, I get it," Morale said. "I understand why they're upset. They loved coming here, and that's why it's bittersweet, because it's been great for us."

Morale also admitted he got teary-eyed himself as he watched his customers enjoying themselves during THC's recent Oktoberfest celebration.

"It's a bittersweet decision...but we need to change," Morale said.