RothbergDubrow Group is proud to have secured 7,200 square feet of former warehouse for Original 13 Ciderworks, a hard cider brewery/winery, at 1526 N. American St.
THE SPACE
While it was a no-brainer to match up a company with the name “Original 13 Ciderworks” (a reference to the 13 colonies) to a street called “N. American St,” there were a lot of other benefits the location offered that were too good to pass up. Originally home to a Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Route, N. American Street transitioned into a diverse economic corridor through the 1900’s, before ultimately being redeveloped for more commercial and mixed use. However, the history of the street remains, most notably in Original 13 Ciderworks brewery, where railroad tracks still line the former train depot, providing the perfect historic environment Original 13 desired.
THE COMPANY
Original 13 Cider was founded by Drexel alum John Kowchak. When explaining why he took up the art of brewing ciders, Kowchak refers to the story of his grandfather Charles, who, more than 70 years ago, worked on an apple orchard where he “learned to brew the best tasting hard cider, made from fresh pressed local Pennsylvania apples.” As he grew up Kowchak took after his grandfather, staying true to his Pennsylvania roots while brewing great cider, which he appropriately named Sir Charles Cider.
THE AREA
Beyond the cider, N. American Street is in the midst of an exciting transformation. Its location in the rapidly developing Kensington means it’s in an Enterprise Zone and a Keystone Opportunity Zone, both of which grant special tax breaks to businesses and landowners. Additionally, the City of Philadelphia was recently awarded 5 million dollars to remake American Street, with plans to add bike lanes, wider sidewalks, and incorporate green infrastructure. All this adds up to an area with huge potential, that some, such as interior designer bahdeebahdu and events venue Crane Arts have begun to take full advantage of.
FINALLY
RothbergDubrow congratulates Original 13 Cider on their innovative new space and looks forward to bringing more exciting tenants to the ever-expanding N. American St corridor. Check out their new location below and their website here!
