ABERDEEN, Md. — A new brewery is coming to downtown Aberdeen, as there's a renewed push to revitalize the city's historic center just off of Route 40 in Harford County.
Watchtower Brewing Company just signed a lease for a space directly on Festival Park.
It will be at 22 Howard Street and include outdoor seating. Watchtower hopes to open in September 2025, or earlier. The owners are putting in their own money, plus loans, and they've also started an Indiegogo fundraising page to help with costs.
The team has already shown up at Friendship Craft Beer Festival in Abingdon, and at Aberdeen's recent Oktoberfest.
It was the second Oktoberfest for the city, spearheaded by another downtown favorite, Prost German Restaurant, which opened in 2020.
"What's going on in Aberdeen is amazing," said Watchtower's marketing director Joe Fino. "We're bullish on Aberdeen."
He noted Mayor Patrick McGrady is determined to revitalize the entire "Main Street" area, and the city has big plans for the historic center.
"[McGrady] is willing to do whatever it takes [to revitalize]," said Fino. Watchtower "is going to anchor their downtown area."
The city is also renovating the entrance to Festival Park, and is planning to make a pedestrian walkway from the park over to the West Bel Air Avenue, to connect businesses that include another new eatery, the trendy bakery Say Delicious.
Restoration work is also wrapping up on the historic B&O Train Station on West Bel Air Avenue.
An open house is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 5.
The city had previously hoped to ultimately get a restaurant for the train station. For now, the plan is to have food trucks regularly stop by there.
