When entrepreneur Remy Zurita opened the doors to Hopnonymous Brewing in December of 2019 he was nervous and unsure of what to expect. Part of that had to do with his decision to overhaul his original business plan, which would have seen his company anonymously producing white-label beers for private clients (hence the company’s moniker). Instead, Zurita went the traditional route, utilizing veteran brewer and business partner Hunter Mannix’s skills in the manufacture of a wide-ranging portfolio of beers, most of which would be available exclusively at Hopnonymous’ tasting room. That’s quite the dramatic shift.
Adding to his uncertainty were the ghosts occupying his Kearny Mesa facility. Tucked away in an industrial complex near State Route 52, the space had previously been home to Council Brewing, a craft-beer cult fave that had been much beloved but ultimately failed after five years in business. Making such a well-known locale his own with the taproom component of his business so vital to the the enterprise succeeding was going to be a challenge, but Zurita and his staff approached it with vigor and positivity.
Personable customer service has been as much a cornerstone as quality beer at Hopnonymous since day one. As a result, the business has gained one of the most devoted followings of any brewery in San Diego County. The majority of the company’s patrons not only know the front-of-house staffers, but are also familiar with Zurita, who makes a point of touching tables in the taproom on a near-daily basis, feeling it is important to know and connect with his clientele. He says creating community is key, even though he admits he wasn’t sure he’d be able to do so in an area that, when he opened, was not zoned for housing.
“Hopnonymous’ DNA has always been – and always will be – a dedication to small-batching fresh beers for the community,” says Zurita. “We started in an industrial area. Nevertheless, within six years of being open, we succeeded in building our community and following, and our taproom has a strong, welcoming neighborhood vibe.”
Zurita long endeavored to extend Hopnonymous’ communal atmosphere to a tight-knit residential neighborhood. He spent years searching for a suitable site at which to construct a satellite tasting room, but kept coming up empty-handed. It wasn’t until he stopped looking that what he deemed the perfect spot – a roughly 1,000-square-foot taproom in Normal Heights, one of 10 previously operated by defunct Little Miss Brewing – became available. Zurita snapped it up in May, then began the lengthy process of upgrading the space, which was in a significant state of disrepair. Over the following six months, his team stripped the interior down to the studs, reconfiguring the bar and seating layout before installing an updated version of the motif at its Kearny Mesa progenitor.
“Our main goal was to transform the space, following the vibe and welcoming ambiance that we have built so far. We wanted to treat the new location as its own fresh start while still remaining true to our brand,” says Zurita. “We optimized the space by making it roomier and welcoming to everyone, including families. We also implemented some new touches, including table- and bar-tops made out of moss-jade concrete, 1950s-era industrial lamps and salvaged mid-century movie theater chairs.”
Meshing with those old-is-new elements is an 18-tap beer board colorfully announcing what’s pouring from custom-designed taps bearing the company’s mask logo and letters spelling out the name of the neighborhood. Framed art based on different Hopnonymous beers abound, and just like the Kearny Mesa taproom, the east wall is lined with a grid of red pallets showcasing eclectic works from local artists. Those creations are for sale and Zurita reports roughly a third of them have been sold since the Normal Heights venue opened on December 19.
It’s the cherry atop the beer float that’s been the satellite’s first two-plus weeks in business. Even without announcing its launch, the venue was mobbed and had a line out the front door within two hours of its soft-open. It’s been consistently packed since. Throughout the renovation process, Zurita and his staff were approached by droves of Normal Heights residents asking for project updates and an opening date. He is pleased to see that initial interest translate to patronage, and looks forward to rewarding those customers’ early backing with various phase-two elements.
Soon, a fully furnished back patio will sport a brand-new roof. That area will also include a slip where food trucks with which Hopnonymous has formed solid working relationships can pull up in the evening to provide an on-site dining option. Weekly programming, including bring-your-own-vinyl nights, are planned for the future, as are watch parties for San Diego Padres and San Diego Football Club. The latter will be held in conjunction with the SDFC supporter group, the Riptides.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Normal Heights community,” says Zurita, “and we are very much looking forward to meeting all our new neighbors and showing them what we can do.”
The Normal Heights taproom is open daily. Its hours of operation are currently 3 to 9 p.m. on Mondays, 1 to 9 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and noon to 7 p.m. on Sundays. Zurita says these hours are likely to change once his team has a chance to analyze typical patronage at the new venue.
Hopnonymous Brewing’s satellite taproom is located at 3514 Adams Avenue in Normal Heights