Marietta Business Spotlight: Glover Park Brewery
If you have visited the downtown Square in the city of Marietta, you may have heard of or possibly had a beer at Glover Park Brewery. I sat down with Hank DuPre, co-owner of Glover Park Brewery, to discuss his success as a new brewery owner and experience as a business owner in the city of Marietta.
The Beginning
Being a 7th generation Marietta resident, DuPre’s family had a business on the Square for 100+ years. Leaving the corporate world with a desire to do something “cool” on the Square, DuPre’s first thought was to open a pub. However, shortly after DuPre left his job, Sam Rambo, DuPre’s now business partner and 4th generation Mariettan, reached out to him and pitched the idea of opening the Square’s first brewery.
At first, DuPre had some reservations about opening a brewery, primarily because neither he nor Rambo had any experience in brewing beer. To remedy this deficiency, they sought help from Kevin McNerney, co-founder and former brewer of the SweetWater Brewing Company, and were able to open up shop in September of 2018.
Setting the Scene
Glover Park Brewery is housed in a former Sears building right off the Square, approximately 950 ft. from its namesake, Glover Park. Against the original recommendation of their architect, the team decided that instead of going with a new, modern look, they wanted to maintain the historical integrity of the old Sears building. With the intention to tell the story of the building’s life, they even go so far as to showcase portions of the brick and timber that were marred from a fire decades ago.
Why Marietta?
When asked why they chose Marietta when they could put their brewery anywhere, DuPre’s immediate response was, “Because this is where we were both born and raised.” It was as simple as that for DuPre and Rambo. The two were intent on being a part of the continued revitalization of the Marietta Square, and it is evident that they have succeeded.
Working with the City
DuPre confessed that he initially expected to have a hard time working through the development process for such an unusual space; however, he says the reality was much different. DuPre said that from day one, the City diligently worked on their behalf to remove any barriers that arose to make Glover Park Brewery a reality.
Cultivating Community
DuPre’s primary goal is to foster community between all types of people, and he says that the most rewarding part of his work as a brewery owner is to be a part of creating a product and space that brings people together to enjoy themselves.
With unique events like Backbends and Brews, game nights, stand-up comedy, live music, and holiday themed events, Glover Park Brewery has something for everyone. Visit at 65 Atlanta St. in downtown Marietta!