The Pub as Neighborhood Third Place
In 2023, the National Association of Realtors reported that over 4 million existing homes were sold, with an average sales price of $389,300. One of the key steps in preparing a home for sale is writing an enticing real estate listing description that highlights a property’s best features and the surrounding neighborhood.
According to Allaire Conte writing for Orchard.com, “A good, effective real estate listing description can attract the right buyers and generate interest in the property.” Interestingly, some listings even mention the proximity to microbreweries as a selling point. As Dorothy O’Donnell and Kelsey Morrison of Homelight.com note, “The listing description is your chance to emphasize the best aspects of both your home and the surrounding area – whether you have access to quality schools or are walking distance from the historic district with boutiques and microbreweries.”
The fact that homeowners would highlight nearby breweries as a neighborhood amenity in their listings does not surprise me. I have been studying the craft brewing industry for over a decade, particularly the impact of breweries on neighborhoods and communities. Through my research, I’ve come to the conclusion that craft breweries are valuable neighborhood assets, and living near one is a positive thing.
The Value of Craft Breweries as Community Hubs
Craft breweries often serve as “Third Places” – neighborhood gathering spots where friends and family can enjoy a locally-brewed pint while socializing. Many are also child and dog-friendly, making them welcoming spaces for young families. In a 2019 paper I co-authored with my colleague Isabelle Nilsson, we found that single-family homes and condominiums within a half-mile of a craft brewery enjoyed a 9% and 32% increase in value, respectively, due to this proximity. This suggests that homeowners highly value being within walking distance of a craft brewery.
In our most recent research, Isabelle and I compared 1,088 home listings that mentioned breweries to an equal number of randomly selected listings that did not. We discovered that homes referencing breweries were generally higher-priced and sold more quickly than average. Breweries were commonly mentioned alongside other desirable neighborhood amenities like restaurants, coffee shops, and parks – indicating that they tend to be located in amenity-rich, walkable areas.
The language used to describe these homes also reflects this. Listings often include words like “historic,” “bungalow,” and “original” – descriptors in keeping with the character of neighborhoods like South End and NoDa in Charlotte, North Carolina, which have attracted a disproportionate number of craft breweries. In contrast, randomly selected listings focused more on the home’s features rather than the surrounding neighborhood.
The 15-Minute City and the Role of Craft Breweries
This research aligns with the idea of the “15-Minute City” – an urban planning concept advocating that most daily needs should be accessible within a 15-minute walk or bike ride. As Carlos Moreno, an urbanist and professor at Sorbonne Université, explains, the 15-Minute City aims to address issues of “alienation and disengagement between citizens” by creating walkable neighborhoods with a mix of amenities.
Craft breweries can play an important role in the 15-Minute City as Third Places that foster community bonding and social interaction. As noted by the Brookings Institution, Third Places are “locations where we exchange ideas, have a good time, and build relationships” – the kind of gathering spots the 15-Minute City seeks to promote.
Moreover, the social and mental health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption, as outlined in research by evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar, suggest that craft breweries can be particularly valuable Third Place assets. Dunbar’s work has shown that people who regularly visit their local pub tend to be more socially engaged, contented, and trusting of their community.
The Up and Under Pub’s Journey
The story of the Up and Under Pub in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota encapsulates how craft breweries can become integral community hubs within the 15-Minute City model. Vadnais Heights is a suburban city of just over 13,600 people, located about 15 miles northeast of downtown Minneapolis.
In 2015, the city purchased a 3-acre parcel of land that had previously housed a gas station and hardware store. Initially, there were plans to develop the site into an apartment complex. However, some nearby residents voiced concerns that an apartment building would not be an appropriate fit for the primarily single-family neighborhood.
The city responded by forming a 14-member task force, including both residents and business leaders, to identify alternative uses for the site. After conducting research and analysis, the task force determined that a brewery would be the best option. As noted in the task force’s final report, a brewery represented “a unique opportunity for the city” that would “build community and social interaction.”
The city then reached out to over 500 existing brewers and distillers, ultimately attracting Big Wood Brewery, which was looking to expand from its original location in nearby White Bear Lake. Big Wood’s owner, Jason Medvec, shared the task force’s vision for the new brewery to be a “community-centered venue where there is always something exciting happening and where everyone feels welcome.”
Craft Breweries as Neighborhood Anchors
The Vadnais Heights story illustrates several key points about the role of craft breweries in communities:
-
Responsiveness to Resident Feedback: The city listened to its residents and created a platform for decision-making that reflected their desires, rather than imposing a top-down development plan.
-
Adaptive Reuse of Vacant Spaces: The brewery will occupy a vacant parcel and an abandoned hardware store, breathing new life into underutilized spaces.
-
Community-Centered Vision: Both the residents and the brewery owner envision the new brewery as a “community gathering spot” and Third Place for the neighborhood.
-
Economic Revitalization: The brewery’s arrival is expected to contribute to the area’s economic and social vitality.
Across the United States, craft breweries have strategically positioned themselves as valuable community assets – places that are deeply integrated into the social fabric of their neighborhoods. The Up and Under Pub’s journey in Vadnais Heights demonstrates how craft breweries can serve as anchors for walkable, amenity-rich communities that align with the 15-Minute City ideal.
The Speakeasy Resurgence and the Human Need for Connection
Of course, the story of pubs and breweries is not without its challenges. During the COVID-19 pandemic, local and state authorities introduced various restrictions on bars and craft breweries in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. This led to the temporary resurgence of the “speakeasy” – the term for illicit, unlicensed establishments that sold alcohol during Prohibition.
Newspapers reported on “Cops Raid 2 Illegal Clubs, Say Speakeasies Cropping Up After State Enacted 10 pm Curfew,” and the New York Times declared, “Lap Dances, Karaoke, Late Hours: The Speakeasies of the Covid Era.” While breaking curfew and social distancing rules is certainly inadvisable, the reemergence of speakeasies highlights an important point: any legislation that dictates when and where people can consume alcohol is bound to be met with resistance.
This is because visiting a bar or brewery is a crucial social activity for many individuals. As urban sociologist Ray Oldenburg described, these Third Places exist in contrast to the First Place (home) and Second Place (work), providing spaces for people to gather, unwind, and build relationships. The social isolation forced by COVID-19 has exacerbated loneliness, which research shows can have severe physical and mental health consequences.
Anthropologist Robin Dunbar’s work has demonstrated the social and well-being benefits that come from the moderate consumption of alcohol, particularly in relaxed social environments like pubs. Hanging out with friends, exchanging stories, and laughing together triggers the release of endorphins that enhance social bonds and community cohesion. For many, the need to maintain these connections was strong enough to drive the resurgence of speakeasies, even in the face of public health restrictions.
The Enduring Allure of Craft Beer and Community
Craft breweries have emerged as a new genre of Third Place in communities across the United States. Unlike traditional bars, craft breweries often position themselves as welcoming, family-friendly gathering spots that are deeply integrated into the social fabric of their neighborhoods.
This integration is evident in the ways craft breweries have become highlighted as desirable neighborhood amenities in real estate listings, contributing to higher property values in their vicinity. Research has shown that craft breweries tend to be located in walkable, amenity-rich areas – the kind of neighborhoods envisioned by the 15-Minute City model.
The story of the Up and Under Pub in Vadnais Heights exemplifies how craft breweries can serve as anchors for these vibrant, community-focused developments. By adaptively reusing vacant spaces and fostering a shared vision of a welcoming “community gathering spot,” the brewery’s arrival is poised to revitalize the area both economically and socially.
Even during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the human need for social connection and the enduring allure of craft beer have persisted. While the temporary resurgence of speakeasies was certainly ill-advised, it underscores the importance of pubs, bars, and breweries as vital Third Places in our communities.
As the Up and Under Pub embarks on its journey in Vadnais Heights, it will undoubtedly continue to serve as a gathering place where neighbors can come together, share a pint, and build the connections that are so essential to our well-being. And with a little luck, you might even catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights while you’re there. Cheers to the power of pints, pubs, and the passage of time!
