Kansas City’s River Market is gaining its newest microbrewery, River Bluff Brewing, opening mid-February. River Bluff will be opening its second location at the historic Water Building at 201 Main Street. The brewery will be occupying 5,500 SF on the main floor of the building, including a retractable garage door and a large patio for outdoor seating. The establishment will also feature food from an outside chef including smash burgers and salads, expected to open mid-March.
River Bluff Brewing currently operates in St. Joseph, Missouri. Founder of the brew pub, Chris Lanman, decided on River Market for his second location because “we feel like with Second Street, we’re in the heart of things but it’s also an escape from the city.” He mentioned the number of great microbreweries in the area and wanted to add to the diverse scene. The brewery is known for its “good, clean beer” and received a silver award in 2019 for its Belgian Ale at the Great American Beer Fest.
The Kansas City Water Works building was constructed in 1905. The main floor was designed to house the following: a stable with stalls for forty horses, space for thirty-five buggies and wagons, a harness room, wash rooms and a furnace room which supplies steam heat for the building. The second floor was designed for offices of the Superintendents of Pipe Lines and the Meter Department. Also located on this floor were the blacksmith shop, wagon repair shop and a large storage room for hay. The building was renovated in 2003 and purchased in 2020 for new retail and office.
City Cycle, will be opening in The Water Building in these next few months. This will be its second location, currently operating in Parkville, Missouri.
AREA’s Tommy McNeese and Tim Schaffer did the leasing for the Water Building, which is currently fully occupied.
Click here to for CityScene’s article on River Bluff Brewing.