A dry town for more than a century, Pitman is due for a brew. The Gloucester County borough’s thirst for suds will be satisfied this spring when two nanobreweries open about 50 feet apart on South Broadway. The owners of the Kelly Green Brewing Co. and the Human Village Brewing Co. view each other as neighbors rather than rivals, united by a love of beer.
“We welcome them,” says Justin Fleming, a local resident who is partnering to run Kelly Green with his wife, Jeannette, and longtime friend David Domanski, of Gloucester Township. “If you have a brewery in town and add another one, you’ll double your attendance,” predicts Fleming, who hopes to open by March 31.
The feeling is mutual for Megan Myers and Emily Barnes, owner/operators of Human Village, who are shooting for a May opening.
“Brewers are friendly,” says Barnes, of Mullica Hill. “We support and help each other,” adds Myers, of Mantua.
Incorporated in 1905, Pitman was founded as a Methodist camp-meeting town. The town does not have any bars or package stores, but Mayor Russell C. Johnson III believes the breweries will provide an economic lift. “I figure it will be a huge catalyst for our restaurants,” says Johnson, citing the popularity of BYO dining. Kelly Green will sell bottles and growlers of beer for off-premise consumption; Human Village will open with growlers for beer to go. Both breweries will have tasting rooms.
Human Village is taking over the Bus Stop Music Café, which presents performances by local and national acts. Myers and Barnes say they will continue presenting live music—and will serve their own beer at the café.