El Cig Brewing Expanding into Adjacent Space in North Park

El Cig Brewing , a local craft brewery that pays homage to the U.S. Navy, is getting ready to expand into the adjacent space in North Park , located at 2903 El Cajon Blvd Unit 2.

The company took over The Homebrewer and its in-house beer operation, Home Brewing Company, in 2022 and created a space that honors the U.S. military. Owner Eric Bridges was inspired to create this brewery after his time with the Navy, during which he became a Senior Chief Petty Officer. Now, he and co-owner Terry Kallar are getting ready to add 1,000 square feet following the acquisition of the next-door space that was once the home of Lang Books, according to San Diego Beer News .

The co-owners plan to use a portion of the space for production while the rest will make the previous 2,000-square-foot spot a little roomier. The company has already added 400 square feet to the tasting room, which now features dart boards, cornhole, and a new retail section called the “El Cid-situation Room,” offering Naval apparel and memorabilia from veteran-owned businesses. So far, the company has torn down the walls between the spaces but is waiting to be zoned appropriately. It’s unclear what else the space will be used for, but the process won’t be completed until next year.

“This expansion is going to happen over time,” Bridges tells San Diego Beers News. “I’m hoping we are finished with our goals by our two-year anniversary, which will take place on April 1 of next year. Up until now, we have been closed Monday through Wednesday. Not only have we changed that, but we’re adding a variety of events for our patrons to enjoy. We have already started an open-mic comedy night every other Monday. We also plan to add weekly trivia nights, Thursday night paint-and-sip classes, and more.”

To help raise capital for the expansion, El Cig offers future-use gift cards that will reduce prices, depending on when the card is activated. Those waiting to redeem the cards until 2026 will receive an even more significant discount, about five percent more than if the cards were activated in 2025. The following are the different card tiers:

• Silver ($100): 10% discount if redeemed after April 1, 2025; 15% discount after April 1, 2026
• Gold ($250): 15% discount if redeemed after April 1, 2025; 20% discount after April 1, 2026
• Platinum ($500): 20% discount if redeemed after April 1, 2025; 25% discount after April 1, 2026
• Black ($1,000): 25% discount if redeemed after April 1, 2025; 30% discount after April 1, 2026

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