Brewery Scene Sprouts in the Inland Empire

A brewery scene is sprouting up in Riverside County. The market has already been home to wineries, but in the last few years, breweries have taken up industrial and retail space in the Inland Empire market, these users concentrated in Murrieta and Temecula. In 2018, the industry grew 5%—even as beer sales in the US climbed only 1%, according to research from JLL. Population growth in the Inland Empire and a growing gastronomy trend is driving this trend.

“Every landlord wants the new, the exciting concept and is willing to provide contributions in tenant improvement allowance to bring that to their projects,” Blake Kaplan, VP at JLL, tells GlobeSt.com. “Brewery is hot priority for Southern California and the growth is happening all over. Being able to eat, drink and have fun within a restaurant is the trifecta for customers.”

This is a new trend in this market, but breweries have become a staple of the San Diego market. The Temecula and Murrieta markets are proximate to San Diego near the 215/15 corridor, and this activity is likely an extension of the growth, according to the JLL report. “It’s just starting in the Inland Empire and we are going to see this grow out organically throughout the greater markets,” Kaplan adds. “Breweries that bring an experience are going to be strong in sales.”