Brewery to Open in Former Fort Monmouth Commissary

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The first commercial tenant at Fort Monmouth’s former Commissary is a brewery with a local connection, scheduled to open by fall. Courtesy Denholtz Properties

By Laura D.C. Kolnoski

OCEANPORT – The first business to operate in Fort Monmouth’s former Commissary building, a brewery co-founded by the former head brewer for the Kane Brewing Company of Ocean Township, is expected to open “late summer or early fall” according to Denholtz Properties, the building’s owner. 

Denholtz Properties, headquartered in Red Bank, announced the lease agreement for a 12,080-square-foot space at 675 Oceanport Way last week. The real estate and investment company purchased the fort’s 26-acre “District A” – comprising the 53,000-square-foot Commissary, the PX (Post Exchange), Post Office Area, Warehouse District and an adjacent parking lot – in 2020 from the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA).

The agency originally offered the Commissary for sale separately, hoping to draw interest from grocery entities. When that proved unsuccessful, FMERA combined the site with the other parcels, and the potential uses expanded to “retail or other commercial use” to attract more buyers. 

Since Denholtz Properties’ acquisition, the company has begun a multiphase redevelopment of District A into Baseline, a retail and commercial project. The recent completion of Phase One includes the adaptive reuse of the Commissary into a multipurpose destination, now called The Commissary at Baseline, geared toward food and beverage uses. Phase Two plans include construction of 72,400 square feet of industrial/flex space spread across three buildings on the site of the former Warehouse District, scheduled for completion in 2023.

Birdsmouth Beer, co-founded by Andrew Gioia, the former head brewer of Kane Brewing Company, and partner Rocco Laginestra, an executive vice president with real estate and investment firm CBRE, are leading the venture. According to a press release, the space will include a full production facility and a tasting room. When FMERA first put the Commissary up for sale, Kane Brewing expressed interest, but later opted not to proceed with the purchase, a former FMERA official told The Two River Times at the time. 

“We’re excited to add our first craft brewery to Fort Monmouth,” said Kara Kopach, FMERA executive director. “Incorporating amenities into our redevelopment has always been a big part of our vision, and the adaptive reuse of the Commissary is a definite success story. We look forward to welcoming Birdsmouth and its fellow tenants.”

Kristine B. Hurlbut, senior vice president, leasing at Denholtz Properties said the hope is the Commissary will become a destination for the community.

Each side bears a Jersey-themed mural by street artist Elle. Laura D.C. Kolnoski

“Our goal at Fort Monmouth is to create a hub where businesses of all types can thrive and power the resurgence of this important piece of New Jersey’s history. Birdsmouth Beer was a good fit for the property because we already had approvals in place for their use and they share the same entrepreneurial spirit we do (along with) our vision for the future of Fort Monmouth. We look forward to celebrating with them as they open their doors later this year.”

Gioia and Laginestra declined to comment for this article.

Along the sides of the building are sweeping Garden State nature-themed murals by Elle, an acclaimed street artist whose work graces walls from New York to Red Bank, including the borough’s Sickles Market and the Lambs & Wolves salon. Her corporate collaborations have included Ralph Lauren, Under Armour and Manhattan’s The Vessel. 

“This was our first time working with Elle,” Hurlbut said. “She was referred to us since she is active in the Red Bank area where we have our headquarters. We really liked her work. We gave her some guidance, but ultimately the decision to feature the New Jersey birds on the mural was hers and we could not be happier with the work.”

Built in 1998, the Commissary served as the food and general goods market for Fort Monmouth. It was one of the fort’s most utilized facilities by military personnel and area veterans and among the last to close when the fort was shuttered by the U.S. Army in 2011.

Denholtz Properties paid $4.35 million for the property and will invest millions more into its redevelopment. Under the terms in the FMERA Purchase and Sale Agreement, the complex is expected to generate at least 110 part- and/or full-time jobs. More potential lessees are already looking to Phase Two. 

“We have received interest from several unique concepts we know will be great additions to the property,” Hurlbut said, adding, “We are excited to announce these over the next several months.”

The article originally appeared in the August 4 – 10, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.