Sergio Bonavita, foreground, a brewmaster at the Westfield River Brewery in Southwick, fills each can of his homemade beer by hand as Rick Berry, a volunteer worker, background, seals the containers at their new location on College Highway in Southwick. (File photo by Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – Westfield River Brewery owner Sergio Bonavita met with the Southwick Planning Board last night to amend the brewery’s special permit.
The latest plans include a kitchen and retail space already in use.
Originally, there were plans for food trucks in the WRB parking lot but Bonavita said he and his business partners and tenant, Skyline Hop Shop, quickly realized that was not practical.
“No one wants to go outside for food in December,” he said.
The Skyline Hop Shop is a home brewer’s supply shop that also operates the kitchen. Owned by business partners Lisa Pac and Dan Osella, the shop and kitchen are part of WRB.
In addition to brewing supplies, Bonavita said he hopes to sell WRB merchandise such as hats, shirts and pint glasses in the near future.
“We grow our own hops and if we ever have a surplus of hops, we’d like to offer them for sale,” said Bonavita.
Bonavita’s amended plans also include a slight expansion of the outdoor patio.
WRB will also be applying for a farmer’s winery license in the future, and Bonavita said other expansion could include moving the brewing process to the upper barn.
“Our original idea was to distribute our product, but right now we don’t have the capacity,” said Bonavita.
When WRB first sought permits to move from Westfield to the former Chuck’s Steak House, the craft beer was distributed to locations in Berkshire County, Worcester and Boston. With the success of the new brewery, however, Bonavita said he has not been able to distribute his product. He hopes to begin distributing again soon.
“We’d like to potentially move production up to the barn,” he said.
The area currently used for brewing on the first floor would then become a canning and packaging area.
Selectman Joseph Deedy spoke in support of WRB during the hearing.
“It’s great to see the old Chuck’s reborn,” said Deedy. “I’m very happy to have them here.”
David Gunn also spoke in support of the brewery.
“I’m a neighbor of the brewery and I’m very pleased with what I’ve seen so far,” he said. “I’ve been there several times and enjoyed the atmosphere they’ve created and the service they’re providing.”
