:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/41388496/stone_richmond.0.0.png)
After months of deliberation that narrowed their search down to three city finalists, Stone Brewing Co. announced today that they have signed a formal letter of intent with the Virginia state capital to build an East Coast hub for the Escondido-based company, with a brewing facility that will be up and running by late 2015 or early 2016 and a Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens restaurant that should come online in a year or two.
The $74 million project will reportedly span 14 acres, encompassing a 200,000-square-foot production brewery with a 250-barrel brewhouse and distribution facility. The restaurant will be housed in a two-story, 30,000-square-foot building that'll be surrounded by Stone's signature landscaping.
In a release, Stone CEO and co-founder Greg Koch shared that "A facility on the East Coast will allow us to meet demand for our beer, ensure we are providing our fans with the freshest beer possible and also serve as a distribution hub for states located east of the Mississippi. We look forward to becoming an integral part of the lively craft beer community in Richmond, the state of Virginia and the entire eastern U.S."
