Montclair Brewery Is Expanding To East Orange With New Location

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Montclair’s first microbrewery is expanding to East Orange.

Montclair Brewery, which has a brewery and tasting room at 101 Walnut Street in Montclair, announced that it will be opening a second location at 757 Springdale Avenue in East Orange. Construction is expected to begin this year.

The expansion will allow the brewery to triple its production capacity and open a second taproom – along with reaching a new customer base.

A multi-stage opening is planned for the East Orange location beginning in 2025. The first phase will focus on the production area and second-floor office space, and the second phase will focus on the taproom.

According to Denise Ford Sawadogo – who owns the business along with her husband, Leo Sawadogo – the success that they’ve been experiencing over the past six years has forced them to evolve, with the brewery being forced to turn down distribution opportunities due to its current production capacity.

The Sawadogos said they originally considered expanding in Montclair, but it just wasn’t feasible.

The brewery’s current location has a “cramped” 658-square-foot production area with a seven-barrel (217-gallon) system. The new East Orange location will feature a much larger 1,700-square-foot production area and a 15-barrel system – a big upgrade.

“With the new system, we’ll finally be able to meet demand and produce enough beer,” Leo Sawadogo said.

The brewery, which has become known for hosting popular events and special tastings, will also be bringing the fun to East Orange, where the events will be more “adult-oriented” than the family friendly location in Montclair. Activities at the East Orange location will also include celebrations of African and Caribbean heritage, such as the brewery’s annual Caribbean Fête and Trinbago Independence Celebration.

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• See Related: Montclair Brewery Infuses Local Beer Scene With Diversity

FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

“While we’re thrilled about the expansion, it’s also a little daunting,” Denise Sawadogo admitted.

“Even though we’ve done this before, this is a new city, and the building has more challenges than our Montclair space did when we first opened,” Sawadogo said.

One challenge? The building requires major updates, including new plumbing and electrical systems, which were unforeseen when it was acquired.

To help defray the costs, Montclair Brewery has launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise money for its expansion into East Orange. See the fundraiser or make a donation here.

The Indiegogo campaign gives some additional background about why the move will benefit the community:

“With less than 1% of breweries in the U.S. being Black-owned, Montclair Brewery is a trailblazer in the craft beer industry. Our success is more than just business growth—it’s a statement and an inspiration to future generations of underrepresented entrepreneurs. This expansion is about more than doubling our brewing capacity—it’s about building a future where our beer is accessible to more communities, and where craft beer culture reflects the diversity of its consumers.”

It isn’t only East Orange that will get a chance to taste some of the unique flavors coming out of Montclair Brewery. The new facility will expand its footprint across New Jersey and New York, with potential plans for distribution in other states down the road.

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