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Tue
Jan 3
2012

Is the Gretz Brewery Doomed?

We’ve passed by the Gretz Brewery at 1524 Germantown Ave. (basically at 4th and Oxford Sts.) many times over the years, admiring what remains of its glory, and lamenting its poor condition. This building, a link to Philadelphia’s deep rooted brewing past, becomes more and more relevant as our brewing present continues on its upward trajectory. And what a building (or collection of buildings) it is.

There's a lot going on

Founded as Rieger & Gretz Brewing Company in 1881, according to rustycans.com, this brewery was in operation during Philadelphia’s brewing heyday, survived Prohibition, and operated until 1960. We can’t find any information that it’s been used since.

In 1949. From rustycans.com

The founders

The smokestack

Does the Gretz Brewery have a future, or will it meet the same fate as the Schmidt’s Brewery to the south?

We don’t have an answer to that question, but we do have some good news: As we’ve covered in recent months, Kensington has tons of development activity going on in every direction. The 3rd Ward is opening a location just two blocks to the south. Residential projects large and small are taking the neighborhood by storm. Unique concepts like co-housing are being piloted in development projects in Kensington. Factories and warehouses are being converted to apartments and artist lofts as we speak.

Even a couple of years ago, the likelihood of the brewery being preserved would have seemed like the longest of long shots. But with all of the action in the neighborhood, perhaps there is hope. The buildings together have a nearly 10,000 sqft footprint, and over 30K sqft of interior squarefootage. Could this space be turned into apartments? A performance space? A laser tag venue?

Considering what else is going on in the area, we don’t see why not.

11
COMMENTS
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Posted in Kensington | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments
  • Eldondre

    love those buildings, I’ve always thought it would make for a great mixed use development. hope someone moves on it before its too late

  • http://planphilly.com/eyesonthestreet/2012/01/03/meet-mark-squilla-what-the-winter-classic-is-worth-philly-2012-trends-hope-for-gretz-brewery-philly-as-gis-leader/ Meet Mark Squilla, what the Winter Classic is worth, Philly 2012 trends, hope for Gretz Brewery, Philly as GIS leader

    [...] Is there’s a future for Kensington’s Gretz Brewery? Naked City ponders the question, finding hope in new developments that continue to bubble up in the area, signaling transition. [...]

  • Gjdeck

    That white trim paint looks pretty darn good for sitting untouched for so many years. I’ve been inside of this place and much of the old brewing equipment is still there. Whatever transformation that takes place here down the road should consider keeping that smokestack in place, if not the rest of the building.

  • Eldondre

    according to the brt, it was bought by a conshohocken based LP in 2008 for $225k, they now owe $19k in property taxes. the property tax seems really high but that’s not an astronomical price for those buildings ($26/ sq ft for improvement area). get off the pot

  • Guest

    They really don’t build things like they used to anymore.  All of that detail for a brewery is just amazing.  I agree with Eldondre.  Mixed-use seems perfect for that property.  It’s amazing some of the “hidden” gems that are all over the area.

  • Melissa

    I used to live in a loft near this building and passed it often, cringing every time because I wished it was being used! At one point around 2007/2008 they started doing work on the building — that white trim is in fact new. What a disappointment that nothing else has been done to it since, though.

  • http://cwmote.wordpress.com/ CW Mote

    Not sure I see all of that rampant development affecting this particular stretch of Kensington. The area around 4th & Germantown is already devoted to low-income residents and a growing immigrant population, as evidenced by the Islamic school right across the street and the Cousins supermarket further up. Then again, with the Sewing Factory over on 5th Street converted into lofts, a similar fate for the brewery wouldn’t be out of place.

  • Anonymous

    Converting the old National Bohemian Brewery to a mixed-use worked great in Baltimore. 
    http://www2.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=13790

  • Anonymous

    Hi Folks: We are South Kensington Community Partners
    (formerly the Kensington South Neighborhood Advisory Council). This awesome piece
    of history is located within our community group service area (Front-> 6th
    and Girard-> Berks) and we are in the process of nominating it for
    registration with the Philadelphia Historic Commission. In order to do so we
    have to compile some history on this site. If anyone knows a family member or
    neighbor from the past that was employed at this former brewery or any pictures
    or other  historical info about this
    brewery that may be helpful to us, including testimonials- please forward! Our
    group has meetings every first Monday at Finanta at 6:30PM for those of you
    interested in community happenings. We are working on our new website, but you
    can continue to check http://www.ksnac.org for
    updates, and can sign up for our weekly e-blast there as well.
     

  • http://www.facebook.com/Amato.Dave Dave Amato

    If I could make a suggestion to the South Kensington Community Partners. There is a vibrant up and coming tech community in Philadelphia I know because I go to the meetings and discuss things with other start up owners. We have an issue with funding but a location like this would make a perfect space for a tech start up hub. We love old buildings, in fact I work out of one myself. I would suggest pitching the idea to devlopers after getting it on the national register this way the building can stay and keep it’s unique look and history while being used as a retail/office space for the up and coming technology community. I say pitch the idea at one of the Philly meet up events and see what happens.

  • http://nakedphilly.com/kensington-2/concerns-about-the-gretz-brewery/ Concerns About the Gretz Brewery | NakedPhilly

    [...] months ago, we brought the Gretz Brewery, located in Kensington at 1524 Germantown Ave. to your attention. In 1949 In [...]

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