Florida’s Crooked Can to operate brewery, food hall in Snellville

A new brewery and food hall is set for Snellville’s $140 million town center project.
 
Winter Park, Florida-based Crooked Can Brewing Co. has signed a long-term lease at The Grove at Towne Center. The 18-acre development sits off U.S. Route 78, about 25 miles northeast of Downtown Atlanta.
 
Crooked Can will take roughly 12,000 square feet at the project, operating both a brewery and a food hall with about 10 vendors.
 
It’s a concept the company first developed in Florida when taking over a space that was just too big for a brewery alone, said Crooked Can founder Andy Sheeter. It’s since expanded to Ohio, and now is coming to Georgia.
 
“The idea is the brewery will attract people to the food hall. The food hall will attract people to the brewery;’ Sheeter said in an interview Monday. “It really keeps people engaged … It’s kind of one-stop shopping;’
 
Founded about a decade ago, Crooked Can is known for brews including its Florida Sunshine Lager and High Stepper American IPA. In Snellville, it will also begin producing  cider and mead, Sheeter said.

The brewer wants to fill the food hall with local concepts, bringing new options to the 100-year-old suburb of Gwinnett County.
 
“Hopefully, it’s going to be something, because of that local flair, that people are going to embrace;’ Sheeter said.
 
Crooked Can will anchor a prime spot at The Grove, taking the first floor of the brick “Market” building, the final piece of the major redevelopment that has created a walkable downtown for Snellville. Sheeter anticipates launching around Thanksgiving or Christmas.
 
The Grove is a public-private partnership between the city of Snellville, Gwinnett County and two master developers: Atlanta-based MidCity Real Estate Partners and Columbus, Ohio-based Casto.
 
The Grove spans nine buildings. It includes a 288-unit apartment building called The Tomlin, along with a library, shops, restaurants and public spaces. Other tenants include THRIVE Coworking, Great American Cookie, Marble Slab Creamery and Mexican restaurant Parkside at The Grove.
 
Northside Hospital also operates a medical complex that opened last year with a surgery center and other services.
 
The Grove serves as an homage to Snellville’s history, bearing the name of a gathering spot for travelers and traders during the early 20th century.
 
“From the beginning, our commitment has been to create a vibrant and dynamic gathering space for our community:’ Snellville Mayor Barbara Bender said in an announcement. “Having an amazing operator like Crooked Can decide to bring their first location in the state to Snellville and The Grove at Towne Center is so exciting to witness and be a part of.”
This article first appeared in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on July 23, 2024. To see the original article, click here.