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SAUGANASH — After four years, Sauganash’s only bar has a patio.
Alarmist Brewing and Taproom at 4055 W. Peterson Ave., the site of the old Siebel Institute of Technology, opened its outdoor patio Friday after four years of trying to get it off the ground, said brewery owner and brewmaster Gary Gulley.
For now, it will be open only on weekends with limited hours to see how it goes, he said.
“This is the first iteration” of the patio, Gulley said. “We are just trying to show we are responsible neighbors and are not disrupting our tenant neighbors. We will start with 16 people maximum at a time.”
Gulley said the patio saw success this weekend after announcing it Friday via the brewery’s newsletter.
The four-table patio is open 5-10:30 p.m Fridays, noon-10:30 p.m. Saturdays and noon-6:30 p.m. Sundays. It is tucked away in a triangle-shaped green space hidden behind the brewery’s taproom.
The patio doesn’t have table service, but folks can order beer, wine and cocktails at the bar and then take them to the patio.
Gulley launched the brewery in late 2014 with his partners, and they opened the taproom in 2017. He said customers have asked about the patio’s opening for years since the business has a backdoor area.
Credit: DNAinfo/Alex NitkinGulley said the process took a while because the business is in a manufacturing zone, which does not allow them to get a proper business patio license.
Because of the pandemic, Alarmist was able to get a special patio license through the city in an effort to have more outdoor, open-air seating that will last through the end of 2021.
“It took a lot of work to get it across the finish line,” he said. “We’re excited.”
In the coming weeks, Gulley said the taproom will add more tables and increase the capacity if customers are respectful of neighbors and nearby businesses.
Alarmist has been the only bar and taproom in the area since it launched. Nearly seven years later, the business still holds that title, which Gulley said is weird but also nice.
“I wish we could get some more restaurants and bars in the area,” he said. “That would be helpful for all of us.”
Janita Tucker, executive director of the Peterson Pulaski Business and Industrial Council, called Alarmist an excellent neighbor for the area and the only place to gather and buy liquor in the business corridor.
“We are lucky this is the one we got,” Tucker said. “[Gary] bought a bright light to the area. Four years ago, it was all manufacturing and really quiet. Alarmist put our industrial area on the map.”
She said the taproom has become a place where all kinds of workers from the neighborhood gather and has created a strong sense of community.
Gulley said the brewery is currently not checking vaccination cards at the door but guests should wear masks inside the taproom when walking around.
Dogs and children are welcome but should be kept close at all times. There is no food menu but people can bring their own food or non-alcoholic beverages.
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