Julian Beer Co. (JBC) is a family business through and through. It was opened in 2018 by Vince Marsaglia, half of the sibling duo that launched 39-year-old iconic Southern California brewpub chain Pizza Port, who brought in his sons Jeremy and Jacob, showing them the ropes and working with them to manage and grow the business. Both are now full-fledged co-owners along with Head Brewer Matthew Pitman. The experience has brought them even closer than the familial ties already binding them, but now one the Marsaglias will be moving on to helm a spinoff location two blocks down the street. Dubbed the Shackhouse, it will primarily be a spot for locals and visitors alike to enjoy burgers, fries and JBC beers. Jacob will be doing the cooking and is working hard with, who else, his dad and his brother, to get the new spot ready to open by Labor Day weekend. With Jacob consumed with the readying of his new domain, we reached out to Jeremy to get more information about the project and what it will bring to the area.
What inspired you to expand and why did you select the location you did?
My brother outgrew his position in the company, so it was the right time to give him the opportunity to do something new. He is a great chef and we are super excited to work with him on the new project. As for the location, like many buildings in Julian, it has a rich history that added to its allure. It used to be the old firehouse way back in the ‘40s, and was later converted into a restaurant. We plan to honor that history somehow.
Explain the Shackhouse’s concept and layout?
Our main focus is a grab-and-go model, since we have around 20 seats inside and another 10 or so outside. There are two parks adjacent to us, so we are hoping that meld well with our offerings. Folks will also be able to bring food from the Shakehouse to JBC and enjoy it in the beer garden if they like.
What can visitors expect in terms of decor?
We wanted to keep the exterior as shack-esque as possible. The existing colors were white with red trim, so we kept that inside and out. We have classic checkered floors, some live-edge cedar bartops hailing from our nearby farm, and some custom stainless from the guys at Raging Cider & Mead Co. in San Marcos.
What will be on the Shackhouse’s menu?
Burgers, fries and shakes, plus some rotating items. We want to focus on a classic burger-shack menu featuring simple dishes made with great ingredients. We plan to source ground beef, fry in beef tallow, cut our own fries, etc. We will occasionally offer some barbecue dishes from JBC, and may even use beef tallow from the barbecue renderings at our original spot. And we will have about a half a dozen taps serving our house cider, flagship IPA, a lager and some rotating beers.
Why open a second location in the same very small town?
We love Julian. It has been so much fun bringing a little more zing to the town and serving the thousands of visitors that come through. In the fall, we can serve upwards of 3,000 people a day! We are so grateful to be a part of the community and just want to continue serving customers in a way that makes us proud.
The Shackhouse by Julian Beer Co. is located at 2128 4th Street in Julian