USA, VA: Craft brewery with a canine twist may be coming to Virginia Beach by early summer

Pups and Pints, the proposed craft brewery with a canine twist, may be coming to the southside of London Bridge Road near General Booth Boulevard in Virginia Beach, the Yahoo News reported on January 15.

Owners Alexandria Lawson, Christina Sims, and Andrea Paphites have applied for a permit to operate a small craft brewery in the former Strawbridge Garden Center building. It would be renovated and include a restaurant and a dog kennel.

The doggie day care component would require a membership with no overnight boarding of animals. Dogs would be allowed at the brewery, Lawson said.

They hope to open by early summer.

“We’re really excited to bring this to the community,” said Lawson, a business analyst who was inspired to start Pups and Pints after enjoying wine with friends while their canines played at dog parks.

The planning commission unanimously recommended approval of the craft brewery Wednesday despite the concerns of several nearby residents. The City Council will vote on it soon.

“It poses a negative impact on the safety, aesthetics, suburban character and economic value of our stable neighborhood,” resident Lisa Erwin said.

Erwin also said she’s worried about its proximity to Strawbridge Elementary School and the possibility of impaired drivers cutting through the neighborhoods.

Responding to Erwin’s concern, commissioner Dee Oliver said a restaurant that serves alcohol can be built by-right on the commercially-zoned lot.

“I’m not sure that a restaurant would pose as much of a, like, sit and have more than one drink,” Erwin retorted. “It’s a little bit different atmosphere than a tasting room and a place you manufacture beer.”

Pups and Pints would feature an outdoor picnic area between the building and Middle Oaks Plantation Park. It also would have an outdoor game area. The restaurant’s menu would include items for humans and dogs, Lawson said.

Commissioner David Redmond said he enjoys going to a brewery that’s adjacent to a neighborhood in another area of Virginia Beach.

“They’re the most family-oriented places,” Redmond said. “I bet in the end, more people are going to appreciate this operation in the neighborhood than anybody realizes.”

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