Lost Realm Finding Its Way At Old Mill In Manchester

MANCHESTER, CT — Business can rarely be poetic, but an epic tale is being forged in a classic setting in Manchester.

"Lost Realm Craft Co. is a new brewery and pub taking shape in Manchester, founded by Josh Morano and Sal DiBacco. Born from a long journey through a winding maze of challenges, Lost Realm is built around craft beer, cocktails, food, and the spaces where people gather. It’s a place shaped by creativity, community, and the belief that the best experiences are forged along winding paths.The gates are not yet open, and the road ahead is anything but straight—filled with twists, turns, peril, and adventure," the "guides of the Lost Realm" the owners said in their latest social media post this week.

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They continued, "Along the way, we’ve been guided and supported by a small circle of people working quietly behind the veil. Their belief continues to help us navigate what lies ahead. Leave your map behind—the path we're taking has not yet been traveled."

The trailhead to the path to the Lost Realm lies at 176 Hartford Road, an old mill building in the Cheney historic area.

Here's a timeline up 'til now:

January 6

"We"re excited to finally have you here and to start sharing more about what we’re building. We’ve recently crossed some major milestones, though there are still a few important steps ahead before everything is officially a 100% go.Great things take time, and we’re excited to create something really special. Thanks for following along—please stay tuned, help spread the word by sharing the page, and expect lots of fun and cool things coming soon."

February 5

"We’re excited to share a major milestone! The Manchester PZC has approved our Special Exception Preliminary Plan, the first step among many approvals and permits. The path ahead remains long, but this moment matters.Every dream begins as an idea. Before the doors open, before the vessels are filled, before the walls carry voices and music, there is simply a place, and the people who believe in what it could become.This video captures the space as it stands today, tired, quiet, and waiting, at the very beginning of its transformation.We’re deeply grateful to our town, our neighbors, and everyone who has walked alongside us so far. We build slowly, thoughtfully, and together, rooted in this community and guided by care for what comes next."

February 15

"The vessels have arrived! Our 3-barrel brew system is now on site — a small but powerful forge that gives us the freedom to create, explore, and experiment. With it, we’ll be crafting rotating styles, one-off releases, and ingredient-driven brews that push at the edges of what beer can be.Small batches aligned with big imagination: rare hops, unexpected additions, experimental fermentations, forgotten styles, and beers that may only appear once before vanishing back into the Realm. This is the system that lets us wander, discover, and bring new flavors back with us."

March 21

"Demo is nearly wrapped and the space is opening up in a big way. Equipment is on site, plans are evolving, and the Realm is taking form.There’s still a path of approvals to navigate, we’re working closely with the town, moving through each step and continuing to push things forward week by week. Merch coming soon."

April 22

"Next up in our Test Cocktail Series - Ember of the Sun."

The owners said stay tuned for an opening day announcement.

History

The property at 176 Hartford Road has a layered industrial history tied to Manchester’s manufacturing past that evolved into a more recent commercial reuse.

The building dates to about 1910, when it was constructed as part of Manchester’s industrial site roster in a network of small mills and industrial facilities that grew in town alongside larger operations like the Cheney mills, town records show.

It also was used in warehouse and light industrial capacities and eventually by Winsupply, a plumbing and HVAC supply company, that operated a distribution warehouse and showroom, records show.

After Winsupply vacated the parcel, it's 27,000 square fet went on the market for re-use.

That's when Lost Realm stepped in.