Smugtown Brewing, in-planning Henrietta brewery, on hold

Owner/brewer confirms what would have been Henrietta's first brewery fell through at its proposed Town Centre plaza location.

Smugtown Brewing, which was set to become Henrietta’s first craft brewery in more than 25 years, is on hold after plans fell through at its original proposed location.

Co-owner/brewer Jason Fox confirmed in a text message that the project, initially approved by the town of Henrietta in July 2023, won’t be moving forward at 2199 East Henrietta Road in the Town Centre plaza. He declined to provide specifics, but added, “I'm still consulting, and if the opportunity arises to try again, I will give it my best shot.

“Right now I have to make sure my family comes first.”

As recently as March, the brewery was providing updates on social media. Most recently, it showed it took delivery of its smoker at the 5,000-square-foot space. And late last year, its 5-barrel brewing system was delivered.

Photo: The exterior of Smugtown Brewing in December 2023.

Another business, Roc City Ninja, is slated to occupy the space, according to a temporary sign hanging there. News of this pause comes on the heels of another brewery, Mountain Roads Brewing, opening in Henrietta. I broke that news last month. Mountain Roads, located at the Genesee Valley Regional Market, will open in the fall.

Fox first confirmed the pause over the weekend in a thread in the Flour City Beer Appreciation Association Facebook group. WROC-TV then reported the story earlier Monday.

As shown in the application posted to the town of Henrietta website, Joel Chiarenza, who owned the plaza, was slated to be a 50-50 partner with Fox. Chiarenza filed the initial application. The brewpub was to be located in the plaza’s south end, right next to an auto parts store, and in a space that was last home to a video rental business.

Fox is a noteworthy and celebrated brewer in the Rochester scene. He was the former head brewer at CB Craft Brewers in Honeoye Falls and the mastermind of its legendary Caged Alpha Monkey IPA. He has consulted at breweries across the country and currently works closely with Battle Street Brewery in Dansville, Livingston County, and a few other spots.

The Smugtown moninker comes from G. Curtis Gerling’s 1957 book called “Smugtown, USA.” In the book, Smugtown is a nickname for Rochester, one detailing the city’s history of millionaires and other institutions. It is meant as an indictment of the city’s ass-kissing culture. (Thanks, RocWiki!)

Fox previously submitted plans and received approval in early 2021 to open Search Hill Brewing in the same plaza as Beers of the World in Henrietta. That project featured a different ownership group and ultimately fell through.

While focusing on his family and current consulting partnerships, Fox thanked the community for its support, especially “the support of all the craft beer drinkers in Rochester.”

Stay tuned!

Previously:

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