Ozark Beer Co. planning community gathering space in downtown Rogers

Ozark Beer Co. is collaborating with local artists to transform the downtown Rogers brewery’s backyard into a family-friendly community space.

The brewery plans to expand seating and host public events such as festivals, artist fairs and swap meets without weather interruptions or road closures. Ozark Beer Co., Benton County’s first brewery, is at 109 N. Arkansas St.

Founded in 2013 by owners Lacie Bray and Andy Coates, the brewery principals say they remain committed to its community-centered approach despite significant growth.

“We’ve been dreaming about this backyard space since we acquired the building in 2016,” Bray said. “We’re finally getting to a point where we must use the space to continue growing. Ozark’s success cannot be separated from our community, so developing this space for and with our neighbors is truly a dream come true for Ozark.”

The project is a response to the growth in the brewery’s downtown Rogers neighborhood and the expected addition of 300 residential units nearby.

The brewery is partnering with the Urban Land Institute’s Northwest Arkansas district council to involve artists in the design process, funded by a $5,000 Art in Place grant. The goal is to integrate art and community engagement into the development. A full estimate of the project’s cost has not been determined.

Northwest Arkansas is one of 10 grantees worldwide participating in the Art in Place grant program.

The brewery is actively seeking community input and creative ideas for the redesign. Dayton Castleman with Rogers architecture firm Verdant Studio is leading the project.