City Council unanimously approved a lease agreement Tuesday night that will transform a vacant 1959 military building at the entrance to Fairmount Park into a brewery and beer garden.
Thompson Brewing Co., which operates its flagship location on Indiana Avenue in Ward 5, will take over the 12,000-square-foot Armory building at 2501 Fairmount Blvd. under a deal that could extend up to 25 years through four optional five-year renewals.
The city will invest $2.5 million in federal funds to remediate environmental contamination and bring the building up to code before Thompson begins paying rent. The brewery will receive two years of rent credits for tenant improvements, with $12,000 monthly payments beginning in year three. The city projects collecting $458,000 over the initial five-year term.
The deal is not yet final. The lease includes a provision allowing Thompson to terminate the agreement within 12 months of the effective date without penalty. Thompson signed the agreement in November; the city has not yet signed.
The city notified more than 1,300 vendors of the leasing opportunity. Forty downloaded the RFP documents, but Thompson Brewing submitted the only proposal when the solicitation closed in February 2025.
Thompson's proposal envisions a family-friendly destination with an outdoor beer garden, indoor and outdoor event spaces for live music and art, and food service. Under the agreement, the city retains the right to host two events per year at the venue at no rental cost, reimbursing Thompson only for actual expenses.
"It has been a long journey," Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Pamela Galera said. "We are as excited about the outside of the building as we are on the inside."
The Armory sits at a main entrance to the Olmsted Brothers-designed Fairmount Park, and council members framed the lease as part of ongoing work to revitalize the park and surrounding River District. The city recently dredged the park's lake to restore paddle boat and kayak rentals.
Thompson originally submitted a joint proposal with iTennis to develop both the brewery and a pickleball complex on the site. The city opted to negotiate separate leases with each entity and has allocated $1 million for pickleball courts behind the Armory; the iTennis agreement remains under negotiation.
Ward 1 Council Member Philip Falcone said residents "are looking forward to really igniting potential in this main entrance to Fairmount Park." He also requested historical signage explaining the building's origins.
The National Guard currently occupies land north of the Armory but plans to vacate in the coming years.
