As a Jacksonville Elementary student in the early 1980’s, Chris Dennett says Jacksonville was a great place to grow up. Today, the self-made 42-year-old entrepreneur says Jacksonville is also a great place to do business. This month, Dennett returns to his roots with the opening of Beerworks Jacksonville, located in the space formerly occupied by Adit Public House, at 150 S. Oregon Street, below LaFiesta Mexican Restaurant. In addition to owning Beerworks in downtown Medford, Chris also co-owns Elements Restaurant with his wife, Dani, brother-in-law Keith Guy and Mike Hite. Open since 2006, Elements is one of the Rogue Valley’s most successful restaurants.
Dennett, whose parents were the original owners of the McCully House Bed & Breakfast, is joined in Beerworks Jacksonville by business partners Wally Fipps and Tony Hernandez. The trio currently work together and have a long-standing relationship. Like many others in the highly-competitive restaurant and bar business, Dennett learned the ropes working for others in Jacksonville, including an 8-year stint at the Bella Union, Howies, and overseas locations. Dennett, whose college degree was in Philosophy and who is arguably wise beyond his years, says, “I saw it all here and in Europe…and figured out how to run my own place thanks to the mentoring of other great bar and restaurant owners…I literally woke-up one day and realized I could either be a 30-year-old bartender or own my own place!”
Beerworks Jacksonville will resemble the Medford location, but due to square footage limitations, will feature a lineup of 100-150 beers from 20 US states and 30-40 countries. In addition, patrons will be able to choose beers from 12 rotating taps, offering hard-to-find brews. Dennett explained that, “If Oregon was a “country,” it would rank as the #1 producer of craft beers…producing even more than Belgium.”
Following a soft opening in late May, the new Beerworks is open just in time to celebrate Medford Beer Week from June 2-11, 2016.
Featured image: Posing as Charlie’s Angels, l-r: Wally Fipps, Chris Dennett and Tony Hernandez.