Worcester's 3Cross Brewery To Reemerge For A Fourth Time

WORCESTER, MA — For about the fourth time in its nearly decade-long run in Worcester, 3cross Fermentation Coop will soon be reborn as a restaurant and bar.

3Cross founder Dave Howland appeared before the Board of License Commissioners on Thursday to get approval for a new concept: Wooden Bar, which will combine beer and other alcoholic beverages with food from Wooden Noodle — a Japanese eatery that has held popup events in the brewery for years.

3cross first opened in Worcester in 2014 when the city's craft beer scene was still emerging. It also became the first brewery coop in the state, allowing patrons to buy shares in the company.

The brewery, located in the rear of a building at 26 Cambridge St. (the street address is 4 Knowlton Ave.), had to close its taproom in February 2019 due to plumbing problems. After almost a year of renovations, the space reopened in January 2020. The pandemic swiftly intervened, and 3Cross had to close again. It reopened again in October 2020 with a new outdoor patio.

The brewery was selling beer to-go through the end of summer, but has been closed in recent months without any word on a reemergence. The brewer's website has displayed the message "We're on indefinite hiatus" for a few months.

Howland told the License Commissioners that he has changed his state license to a pub-brewery, which means he can make and sell malt alcohol beverages, but also sell products from other breweries. Howland also said the new concept may also host live music.

The commissioners unanimously approved food and alcoholic beverage licenses for the Wooden Bar concept. Howland did not indicate when the new bar might open.