The Tennessee Brewery, with its Romanesque architecture, has been a part of the Memphis cityscape since 1890. Resting on a river bluff at the intersection of Tennessee Street and Butler Street, the brewery is being considered for demolition this August.
The owner of the brewery said if no one buys the building in the near future, it will be demolished.
The Tennessee Brewery,originally known as The Memphis Brewing Company, was not only the largest brewery of the South, but one of the largest in the United States.
The brewery once brewed several different styles of beer, with the most famous being Goldcrest. Prohibition in the 1920s temporarily shut down all production but the facility was reopened in the 1930s.
According to Tommy Pacello, a member of the Mayor's Innovation Delivery Team, the Tennessee Brewery has had 14 redevelopment proposals since 1997, all of which have been turned down.
In the midst of this ordeal, a group is leading a six-week long event called the Tennessee Brewery Untapped. This event, open Thursdays through Sundays from April 24 to June 1 will be held in the courtyard of the brewery.
"Thursdays through Sundays are what we believe to be the best days to capitalize on using this downtown space," said Andy Cates, a member of the Tennessee Brewery Untapped team.
Tennessee Brewery Untapped will host various activities, such as live acoustic performances, food trucks, film screenings, workshops and locally crafted beers.
The purpose of Tennessee Brewery Untapped is to show that historic buildings can be utilized differently.
"We want to spark a conversation about whether or not demolition should be the only option," said Abby Miller, a member of the Mayor's Innovation Delivery Team.
A beer garden will be constructed in the courtyard of the brewery with the assistance of the Memphis Botanical Gardens. All beer served will be locally brewed with the crafts of Ghost River, Wiseacre, Memphis Made and High Cotton under special permission from Budweiser, through which all of these crafts are contracted.
The live musical performances will consist of all-local musicians. The acts will be played acoustic in conjunction with the neighborhood.
So far, only the first weekend has been booked, with Caleb Sweazy playing on April 25 and Apollo Mighty and Star & Micey on April 26.
"We've only booked the acts for the first weekend," said Kerry Hayes, one of the men in charge of Tennessee Brewery Untapped. "It's all trial and error. We want to know what kind of music to play or even if we should have music."
The group hosting the event is comprised of a coalition of private investors advised by members of the Mayor's Innovation Delivery Team, an organization funded by grants from Bloomberg Philanthropies.
"The idea came when they first mentioned that it was being demolished," Hayes said. "We asked ourselves, 'If it can't be saved, is there something left we can do with it?'"
Hayes understands that refinancing the brewery is almost impossible with this event.
"This is not a campaign to save the building," said Hayes. "We just want to have fun with it while we can."
Employed at Doug Carpenter & Associates, Hayes can easily see the Tennessee Brewery from his office window.
"While the neighborhood already has a lot of character, there is a seemingly mystical castle in the middle that everyone wonders about," Hayes said.
Graffiti is displayed on almost every wall inside the building. The Tennessee Brewery is a popular spot to sneak into and paint the walls or shoot some pictures.
"When people see the graffiti, they may think it's ugly or trashy," Hayes said. "But what it really says is that there is a lot of demand for this building with younger people. It makes people very curious and younger people are drawn to it."
Haley Hanners, junior English major, has snuck into the brewery several times before. Getting into the building is not an easy feat.
"First, you have to jump the gate and walk until you find an open window above a lumber pile," Hanners said. "Use that to climb into the window, but swing your legs around and find something you can step down on, such as a bucket or wall frame."
Not everyone can accomplish these activities, so some people crawl through an opening in the building instead of climbing into the window.
"Usually when I go, it's for urban exploration," Hanners said. "I really enjoy sitting on the roof by myself and taking in the view."
Hanners has very conflicted feelings on the Tennessee Brewery Untapped event due to her romanticized perceptions of the space.
"On the one hand, it's important for students to be a part of community events," Hanners said. "But on the flip side, it will draw attention to the building, and attending a large event won't be the same as the isolation the brewery usually provides."
Chis Lott, a sophomore communications major, has been inside of the brewery to take pictures.
"The building is awesome," Lott said. "It feels very urban, and the architecture is perfect for photography."
Lott believes that it is important for students to attend events that center around sites in Memphis.
"People always talk about how much Memphis sucks," Lott said. "For some reason, they won't hang out in Midtown or Downtown, let alone celebrate the life of an old building."
For those wishing to conduct a workshop, play music or submit a request, Tennessee Brewery Untapped can be reached at breweryuntapped901@gmail.com.
