Oasis Brewing was once one of Colorado’s sweetheart microbreweries in Boulder – sporting an Egyptian motif with larger than life palm-leaf fans and hieroglyphs on the taproom walls. The brewery enjoyed a decade-long run in that famous location near the intersections of Broadway and Canyon. But as more and more microbreweries emerged, they pinched on Oasis’ success forcing the breweries’ closure. In 2014, Oasis’ owner George Hanna was talked into resurrecting the brewery by his son and son-in-law, banking on the microbrewery’s still notorious brand of beers.
That dream has taken nearly four years to realize, because Hanna hadn’t found a location suitable for the business’ relaunch. So, they spent the last few years creating contract brews for a few other breweries, such as Prost and Crazy Mountain. The search took Hanna back to Boulder, then back to Denver, and finally the West Highland neighborhood. That’s where he found the Beth Eden Church building (built in 1931) that has stood vacant since about 2007 and was supposed to have date with a wrecking ball. Caving to irate neighbors, RedPeak Properties decided to save the church, but not before a nasty court battle ensued over the zoning of the property the church was located on.
“We were anxious, but also patient, to find the right spot. I don’t think we could have done any better,” says Oasis co-owner and longtime Boulder restaurateur George Hanna. “I love the space. It makes me smile every time I walk in here.”1
The following details about the long zoning dispute over the Beth Eden Church and Highlands Square were gathered from local news reports:2
The Oasis Brewer, which is located on the first two floors of the old church building, will include a seven-barrel brewhouse, a spacious taproom, and a patio for with space 50 people.
If you have a development project that is hitting roadblocks because of zoning issues or constituents opposed to the project, contact the experienced Denver Zoning Issues and Disputes Attorney at Downey & Associates, PC. To set up a free, initial consultation, call us today at 303-647-9399 or use the message form on the right-hand side of the page.
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1“Oasis Brewing Will Rise Again Inside Historic Highlands Square Church” published in Westword, April 2018.
2“The City Takes Blueprint Denver Back to the Drawing Board” published in Westword, March 2016.
3“The City Takes Blueprint Denver Back to the Drawing Board” published in Westword,