ESCONDIDO — Stone Brewing’s founders have stepped in to save the 57,000-square-foot Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens from permanent closure, with plans to reopen the sprawling Escondido property under a new name.
The popular restaurant and brewery was scheduled to serve its final guests Nov. 13. While the venue may still close under the Stone name, its restaurant, brewing facility and expansive gardens will not be shuttered for good.
Stone co-founders Greg Koch and Steve Wagner, who launched the company in 1996, have begun transferring the restaurant’s operations from Sapporo USA, which acquired Stone Brewing in 2022. The pair plans to reopen the venue under an entirely new name, with craft beer remaining central to the experience.
Earlier this year, Sapporo sold the Stone Brewing brand to Firestone Walker Brewing Co. and Duvel Moortgat USA. Under the agreement, Firestone Walker will oversee the brand’s West Coast operations, while Duvel will manage operations on the East Coast.
Following the sale, Firestone Walker shifted Stone’s West Coast brewing production to Paso Robles. Sapporo, meanwhile, announced plans to wind down and eventually cease brewing operations at the Citracado Parkway facility in Escondido. The company will continue brewing at its Richmond, Virginia, location.
As part of the acquisition, four Stone retail locations are expected to remain open: Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens — Liberty Station and taprooms in Little Italy, Oceanside and Pasadena. The Liberty Station location will continue offering hospitality services and operating as an active brewery.
Koch told San Diego Beer News that neither he nor Wagner could bear the thought of the Escondido landmark closing permanently. Although the co-founders are pleased with their decision to reclaim the venue, Koch acknowledged that the transition will be “extraordinarily complex.”
He also expressed appreciation for the outpouring of support from customers saddened by news of the restaurant’s impending closure.
“Knowing what this place means to so many people is a powerful motivation to carry it forward,” he said.
For now, the co-founders plan to preserve much of the existing venue while making improvements to enhance the overall guest experience.
They also intend to expand the beer selection beyond Stone’s offerings to “celebrate the breadth and quality of the craft brewing community.” The Escondido location currently features 36 Stone beers on tap.
