UPDATE: Couple Hopes to Open Beer Garden in Old Town Alexandria

Like the idea of hanging out with friends savoring new brews? You’ll be interested to hear that Good Beer LLC, a startup hospitality company based in Alexandria, will officially launch a Kickstarter campaign Tuesday for a new beer garden and gastropub concept, Good Beer.

UPDATE: Here’s the live link to the Kickstarter campaign for Good Beer.

Currently slated for development in the King Street Station area of Old Town, across the street from the King Street Metro, the Good Beer concept will be Alexandria’s first and only beer garden.

Plans call for delivering the best craft beer from the finest brewers across the country – including Virginia’s burgeoning brewing community – to Alexandria residents, said Ryan Schradin, co-founder and CEO of Good Beer.

Co-founders husband and wife Ryan and Sarah Schradin of Alexandria’s Rosemont neighborhood have been touring and researching beer gardens and pubs around the country. They hope to locate their beer garden and gastropub in the spot formerly occupied by Stella’s, 1725 Duke St.

The proposed beer garden will be coupled with the indoor gastropub, serving elevated comfort food and traditional beer hall staples in a relaxed environment, as well as a retail store selling beer by the bottle and growler.

“Beer gardens are cherished neighborhood institutions where people can gather, share stories, socialize and network over one of the most ancient and loved beverages,” said Schradin. “The Good Beer concept brings something to Alexandria that its residents have been demanding, and that - we feel - will help to foster more community, communication and enjoyment for Alexandria residents.

As a startup organization, Good Beer is launching the Kickstarter campaign to provide capital for financing its build out, according to Schradin. The campaign is scheduled to run for 30 days and has a goal of $50,000, which its owners intend to use toward the restaurant’s kitchen equipment.

Donations to the Kickstarter campaign will be rewarded with prizes ranging from Good Beer branded merchandise to invitations to exclusive chef’s dinners and private parties.

“Creating Old Town Alexandria’s first and only beer garden is an undertaking that will require incredible dedication and a significant financial investment,” said Sarah Schradin, Good Beer CFO and co-founder. “This Kickstarter campaign will give the company the startup capital it needs as it works toward completing its build out.”

Good Beer is working closely with the Alexandria Small Business Development Center as it moves towards the opening of its first concept. Following the Kickstarter campaign, the company plans to continue fundraising and working towards an eventual opening date in summer of 2015.

For additional information, visit Good Beer on Facebook.

The Schradins are residents of Rosemont and ardent beer lovers who have called the Washington, DC region home for more than a decade.

The husband and wife team are best known for their previous venture, DC Broomball – the region’s first and only broomball league. The couple founded DC Broomball in 2008 with approximately three members and grew the league to approximately 300 members, 10 teams and two leagues before retiring from action and league leadership in 2014.

Under the leadership of the Schradin family, DC Broomball became the first league from outside of the Midwest to win a USA National Championship when a team comprised of DC Broomball athletes claimed the title in 2012. DC Broomball-based travel teams have since combined to claim four National Championship titles in the league’s seven-year history.