Two Weeks Notice Brewing celebrates one year anniversaryDate: 6/3/2020 WEST SPRINGFIELD – Just over a year ago, the taproom at Two Weeks Notice Brewing Company was at full capacity and a line to get in stretched into the parking lot.
Now, sitting at the brewery’s empty bar with different questions about capacity swirling in the coronavirus era, owner and head brewer Mark Avery admits the milestone is bittersweet, but he has focused on the good and is looking ahead to the future.
“Last week was emotional for sure not being able to celebrate the way we wanted to but still looking back on the positives of things,” he said “It’s such an accomplishment to do one year being a small business. It’s just been wild to watch this whole thing grow.”
After the initial surge of patrons to West Springfield’s first brewery on its opening weekend, Two Weeks Notice’s popularity grew slowly but steadily and the operations inside the former industrial building on Bosworth Street likewise evolved.
“It’s been an organic growth, which has been good and sustainable and honestly easier to manage. We started to gain steam and momentum. I’m not sure if it’s because we started doing more events or different beer releases, but we started to get more well-known not only in this community but outside of the community too,” Avery said. “The fact that it has grown from me thinking, ‘I don’t know if anybody’s going to show up’ to rolling up and seeing a parking lot full of cars has been pretty wild.”
Just before the taproom was forced to close as part of Gov. Charlie Baker’s restrictions on bars and restaurants as part of his COVID-19 response, Avery said the company was on the verge of adding another bartender to better serve the rapidly growing Sunday crowds. Like the brewery’s following, the growth of his workforce has also been organic, he said, and those who come on board have a vested interest in the company’s success.
“We haven’t had any turnover. We’ve only had growth,” he said of his workforce. “Everyone has been family or friends that care about the brand or patrons who really care about the brand and the beer and they want to put their best work forward.”
With Gov. Charlie Baker’s restrictions, the business had to pivot from the taproom exclusively to can sales. Two Weeks Notice developed a drive-thru model that has worked and the support has remained strong and humbling, Avery noted but added the taproom is still the lifeblood of his business.
Recalling the bare walls on the taproom’s opening night, Avery pointed to a number of improvements to the space during the year, including new cooler spaces, artwork by Eric Clarke, who also designs their can labels, and an outdoor patio. Calling it “a weird little building that we love,” Avery said creativity has been the key.
“It’s funny, it’s such a deceiving space. When people walk in, they just keep walking back and are like, ‘Oh my God, look at all the stuff in here,’” he said.
In addition to unique usage of space, features like the patio have been used for beer gardens and even unconventional events like independent pro wrestling shows.
The taproom adds an element of connection between the public and the brand, he said.
Avery runs the business alongside his wife, Murph, and his partner Derek Upton and said they are still letting the creative juices flow both in the brewhouse and in the taproom.
“We’re always trying to tweak things and improve things for the experience for everybody,” he said, adding this week the preparations for reopening the taproom would be “full speed ahead” with safety equipment on order and new tables to encourage distancing being constructed.
In addition to safety measures, the Averys and Upton are preparing to build upon their success with various improvements to all phases of the business from production to the taproom experience.
Avery said he is exploring purchasing a new, bigger brewing system that would allow Two Weeks Notice to provide more products not only to the taproom but for increased distribution.
“We started a small distribution before shutdown with a lot of places around here, not necessarily getting our cans in stores but getting our beer on tap in a lot of places. I think cans are probably a certainty at this point to get into stores in year two,” he said
Having hosted various food trucks in the past, Two Weeks Notice also hopes to have a working kitchen ready in time to reopen in order to serve its own food. Some of the patrons’ favorite food trucks like Bear’s Barbeque and Cousins Maine Lobster would still make appearances, but Avery said when they were approached with the idea, they saw a real benefit to having their own food service.
“All of the food truck owners are great, but the scheduling and everything that goes a long with that can be a real fight sometimes,” he said. “We thought it would be great to have our own kitchen and we have the space, so we’re going to give it a try and I think people are going to love it.”
Through all of the changes and challenges, including the COVID-19 situation, Avery said the town of West Springfield has been an ally and he is excited to see what the future brings.
“The town’s been great. We’ve been staying in contact with them throughout this thing. They’ve been working hand in hand with us,” he said. “[Mayor] Will [Reichelt] has been great, too. They’ve all been great for small business. The town is always trying to push us and other businesses to stay open and keep growing. I’m definitely glad we made our home in West Springfield for sure.”
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