In January 2019, a community best known for its citrus-rich past received something it could be proud of in the present, its first-ever brewery. That operation, 13 Point Brewing, was installed in a 3,450-square-foot former Mexican restaurant on the east end of Broadway. Operating on a seven-barrel system helmed by SDSU Business of Craft Beer certificate program alum Robert Bessone, the company brewed an array of American, English and German-style beers, some of which had names that were a nod to Lemon Grove. The company reveled in recognizing the community and being its first taste of within-city-limits local beer, all of which made ownership’s difficult decision to close the business even tougher.
“The global pandemic in 2020 had a major impact on our momentum going into our second year, and unfortunately we never fully recovered,” says 13 Point owner Bob Frank. “It has also been increasingly difficult to do business in California and in the brewing industry as a small, neighborhood brewery and tasting room. Sadly, inflation is also taking its toll on operations as sales volume is not matching increased costs.”
Frank says there were other factors that led to the decision to shutter 13 Point, but that the above were the most influential. Several months ago, he shared his desire to close the business with the owner of the building that housed it. It was put up for sale and has since been purchased by a local union that will use the space as a hall. There is currently no firm date for when 13 Point will cease operation, but Frank doesn’t expect to stay open past the weekend of July 7-9.
While Frank made a strategic decision to eschew communities already saturated with local brewery venues, opting instead to provide Lemon Grove with its inaugural beer operation, it wasn’t his intention to be a lone wolf forever.
In early 2020, it looked as if 13 Point would get a brewery neighbor when Amplified Ale Works owner Alex Pierson announced he had secured a historic 5,500-square-foot building near the corner of Broadway and Lemon Grove Avenue. Pierson’s intention was to build a sizable headquarters with expanded brewing capacity for the Pacific Beach business, but COVID-19 laid those plans to waste.
Last year, husband-wife duo Scott and Tessa Christian were working to convert a 2,100-square-foot auto-shop facility into a brewery on the 7300 block of Broadway. Due to issues beyond the couple’s control, they were unable to get past the demolition phase and decided to move on in search of a new project site for their Sunny Grove Brewing. They still hope to site their company in Lemon Grove.
While Frank enjoyed being Lemon Grove’s first brewery, he admits that the small municipality wasn’t quite ready to support a business of 13 Point’s size. In retrospect, he would have liked to have opened a smaller operation, but he has far more good memories than he does regrets.
I’ve met some wonderful people here, some of whom have become close friends that will transcend beyond the closure. I’ve had countless people tell me how much they appreciated us putting a brewery in Lemon Grove, and how they enjoy the beer and the atmosphere. I loved hearing that each and every time, and regret that we couldn’t keep it going for them.”
Bob Frank, Owner, 13 Point Brewing
Frank plans to hold an official farewell party to thank 13 Point’s supporters and says to keep an eye on 13 Point’s social-media accounts for information about that event as a date has yet to be determined.
13 Point Brewing is located at 8035 Broadway in Lemon Grove