Downtown brewery owners seek second chance from city officials 

ALBANY – After closing in November 2024 as a result of a bank foreclosure on their brewery, Pretoria Fields Collective’s principles are looking for another shot at operating the downtown gathering spot.

Owner Joe Harris “Tripp” Morgan III has proposed entering into a 10-year lease with the city under which Pretoria would pay $1,000 per month to rent the facility on Pine Avenue, with an option to purchase the property and equipment for $1.2 million. Currently, the brewery is operating on Walker Ducker Station Road.

The brewery, a popular watering hole that brought people downtown to the taproom, closed abruptly when Southwest Georgia Farm Credit foreclosed to secure debt.

Since that time, city officials have sent out a request for proposals for purchase of the brewery, with one brewer offering a proposal. Officials with Socius Beer Collective indicated they were interested in operating the taproom but did not indicate much interest in cranking the brewery back up. Rather, they proposed trucking beer from other locations to Albany.

That element is something that Mayor Bo Dorough, who sent a Monday letter to Albany City Commission members outlining Morgan’s proposal, said is missing.

“My opinion is if you’ve got $1 million worth of equipment, you should have a company that’s going to brew on site,” he said. “A major consideration should be whether the interested party is willing to brew on-site. That’s half of the operation. That’s what brings the character; the unique appeal is that you’re brewing on-site.”

Pretoria Fields was hit with several circumstances that helped lead to its closure, chief among them the COVID-19 pandemic, the mayor said. Operating under a lease, it could be successful if given another shot.

“I just believe we should consider Pretoria Fields,” Dorough said. “They have operated the facility. Financially, it obviously was not a success, but that is because of the debt service incurred in the business and some factors that were outside his control such as COVID.”

Dorough is proposing that the city seek another round of proposals from interested brewers once the city acquires the property.

The brewery was a key component in bringing traffic and business to the downtown area, and it is important to get it back in operation, the mayor said.

“It’s a central component of downtown revitalization,” he said. “There is a benefit to having something that is a local brand for your city. I believe Pretoria Fields, with no structural debt other than the cost of operating the brewery and taproom, could be a success.”

In addition to operating the brewery and taproom, Pretoria’s proposal calls for the facility to brew a minimum of 310 gallons of beer per month, to keep the tap room open for a minimum of four hours per day five days per week and eight on Saturday. It also would host at least two weekly events and a downtown market at least once per month.

“I want to know more about it,” Commissioner Dianna Brown said. “Everybody’s saying he’s bankrupt. It was not bankrupt; it was a closure. You know how things were when COVID hit. He lost revenue.”

Brown said the commission should move forward with downtown development  to help make the business a success. 

With a contract that ensures accountability, she said that Pretoria Fields could be successful.

Ward I Commissioner Jon Howard, whose negative opinion of alcohol is well-known, said that the brewery was successful in bringing people downtown. He said he hopes that the city can bring a brewery back.

“That was a huge loss to downtown,” Howard said of the brewery closing. “Pretoria Fields did bring in a lot of individuals. Since we are doing so much on Pine Street, we need to make sure the brewery is in operation.”

Whether that operator is Pretoria Fields is another question for him.

“I would have to think about that,” he said.

With Pretoria Fields owing back taxes in the thousands as well as utility bills, Commissioner Chad Warbington said there is reason to be hesitant about bringing the brewery back. The city also has racked up legal costs due to the foreclosure.

“I would definitely say there’s some concern with considering Pretoria to come back to the brewery,” he said. “To start them up with the same entity, I don’t think the citizens would support that. My preference would be to go with a new group.”

Morgan did not respond to a request to comment for this story.