The Turlock Planning Commission unanimously approved a Conditional Use Permit for the Dust Bowl Tap Room, a retail outlet for the Dust Bowl Brewing Co. which currently operates a microbrewery in the industrial area of Turlock on Spengler Way.Many may not have known Turlock even had a brewery and now will get to taste their newest brews first right in downtown Turlock.
The Dust Bowl Brewery Company currently brews about 600 barrels of beer annually and looks to grow to 2,000 barrels over the next 5 years. Hops of Wrath India Pale Ale is their only brewed drink currently but are expected to have about 10 different styles of Dust Bowl beer, cider and draft root beer.
“We’ve developed one style of beer which we’re wholesaling,” said Dust Bowl Brewing Company owner Brett Tate. “We would like to do multiple styles of beer and we have been experimenting these last few months in anticipation of opening a tap room in downtown Turlock.”
The newly approved business is to be located at 200 W. Main Street (the Mercantile Building) with the hours of Monday through Sunday, 6:00am to 12:00am (midnight). Menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner will be available providing light breakfast food and coffee, sandwiches, cheese, light appetizer trays, breads, desserts, etc. Background music and a large flat screen TV will be available for customer enjoyment.
The applicant’s project planned for a 2,278 square foot floor plan but was then scaled back to 1,341 square foot. The original proposal also requested approval of live music by a single non-amplified performer but was then retracted due to the reduced space while also considering the Police Department’s standard condition prohibiting live music
Brett Tate spoke to the Turlock Planning Commission at the November 4, 2010 meeting and said that there will be something for everyone at the all ages tavern.
“It’s going to be an upscale… We’ll call it a beer bistro,” said Tate. “We’re very excited, we’ve been developing beers for the past couple of months, they’re off the hook.”
Tate, born and raised in Turlock, expects people to come to his hometown for the micro-brewery experience.
“From a planning standpoint, I think this is a great project for downtown. It’s a big step, we need a few more anchors,” said Turlock Planning Commissioner Nick Hackler. “I know they are starting small, kind of wish it might actually be a little bigger, but I know it could be a big draw and great for the community.”
After the Planning Commission unanimously approved the Conditional Use Permit for the Dust Bowl Tap Room, Planning Commission Chair Mike Brem was already looking forward to the business opening.
“Let’s get some off the hook beer going here,” exclaimed Brem. “What’s your timeline on this? I’m thirsty!”
As the packed City Hall attendance clapped, owner Brett Tate gave an answer everyone wanted to hear, “ASAP!”
Turlock Downtown Property Owners Association (TDPOA) Executive Director Trina Walley was excited to see the approval of the Dust Bowl Tap Room from a business standpoint.
“We are looking forward to having Dust Bowl Tap Room in downtown,” said Walley. “It will bring new life to the Mercantile Building and West Main in general that has suffered the most with vacancies.