Delayed by pandemic, District 1 finally celebrates grand opening

By Brandi Makuski

It was the perfect time for the ribbon-cutting of a local brewery, according to Mayor Mike Wiza: at the end of the day on a Friday.

Ambassadors from the Portage Co. Business Council came together with Wiza, various city department heads, and Plover Administrator Dan Mahoney on April 23, when employees and co-owners of District 1 Brewing Company celebrated its formal ribbon-cutting.

The brewer made its home in 12,000 square feet formerly home to an office furniture company and a previous location of Trig’s County Market.

The company is named for the city district in which it resides. Co-owner Chris Gethers, one of six at the brewing company, said they used local products and people in the renovations, and they’re sticking with that local theme in their products.

One German pilsner is named Skill Mill Pils for the popular arcade that once resided on the south end of the complex. An Indian pale ale is called Crazy Days, the once-moniker of a downtown festival, and Boy With The Boot shares the name of a popular statue that sits in front of Stevens Point Fire Department headquarters a few blocks to the south.

District 1 opened in the fall of 2019 and planned a ribbon-cutting in 2020.

“But like a lot of things in 2020, plans changed,” Gethers said on Friday. “We made it through COVID—our taproom is back to being cashflow positive.”

Gethers said the company was open for about six weeks before the pandemic forced them to close their doors to the public.

“We had a really, really good cash position, and unfortunately, some of that position was consumed in the downturn,” he said. “But we’re doing okay today; things get better each month. I think that’s a real testament to the team we put together.”

Gethers and several of his team members appeared for a formal welcome into the business community by the PCBC—all beaming with excitement. It was the first public ribbon-cutting in Portage Co. in several months.

“We’re hoping to get the message out more about who we are and what we’re really about,” Gethers said. We’re a community-focused taproom; we’ve actually had folks come in here and ask if we’re running a daycare. No, we’re not running a daycare, and no, we’re not trying to break in the younger generation of beer-drinkers, but we’re a family-oriented place. We want people to come here, we really want to transport people away from Stevens Point for a couple of hours, take your mind off whatever you have going on, get a drink or two, and enjoy what we have in the space.”

In a strange twist that most businesses would decry, the brewery welcomes carry-in dishes from local businesses. District 1 doesn’t offer a food menu, instead, taking advantage of the building’s ample parking space and the area’s growing food truck community.

The collaboration means more business for everyone involved, and a heightened sense of community for patrons, he said.

“We don’t want this to be about us; we want this to be about our staff,” he said, adding that some staffers even have a hand in their own brand of brew. One example is seen in Kevin Winston’s new brew, the company’s newest, is named for him.

“I’m a fan of wheat beers, so this is one we came up with,” Winston said. The new brew is the “KeveHefeWinsteWeizen” Hefeweizen.

Beyond the bar, the taproom expands into a large open seating area with room for live music and a lot of games: an entire room of pinball games, along with a slew of family games, to encourage family entertainment.

Sarah Agena, the company’s events/social media coordinator, said District 1 has a lot of community events planned in the future. The next one is a Food Truck Fair on May 1, with over 20 local food trucks, a 10K fun run beginnings at D1 Training in the Portage Co. Business Park, and live music throughout the day.

The company is also hosting a Foor Truck Fair on May 1. Over 20 food trucks, a 10K fun run, with live music throughout the day.

District 1 Brewing is at 200 Division St. Suite G. For more information contact the taphouse at www.district1brewing.com or 715.544.6707.