Urban Village Brewing of Philadelphia is working on plans to develop a second location, which will have them crossing the Delaware to develop a multi-building complex and lake in Glassboro NJ.
This project is not scheduled for Glassboro Borough review yet, but it is moving through preliminary reviews with government entities including the NJ-DEP (freshwater wetland verification).
The items presented here could change before the project moves to an official Glassboro approval meeting.
The project is planned for the Ellis Mill Road exit of Route 55, at the intersection of Richwood-Aura Road.
This exit is South of the Inspira Hospital exit, and many probably don’t realize that this Ellis Mill Road area is Glassboro. Significant housing development has been taking place in this area, and the combination of easy highway access and new residential developments are likely key aspects which grabbed the attention of the Urban Village Brewing ownership team. Richwood Crossing is directly across from this planned project.
If you are unfamiliar with Urban Village Brewing, they operate a brewery/restaurant in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties section, specifically it is within the Piazza residential and commercial complex.
While they are a Philadelphia based brewery, the main listed owner of Urban Village (and this project) is a resident of Gloucester County.
For Glassboro, the ambitious plan would be developed in multiple phases with three large buildings supporting; Urban Village Restaurant/Brewery (Brewpub), a banquet facility, and third commercial building.
A large man-made lake will be the centerpiece of the property, which will also include an event lawn and ancillary buildings such as a separate food/restroom facility to support the event space.
42Freeway first wrote about the plans in December of 2023 which was partially based on a Glassboro Borough Redevelopment Ordinance. At that time I actually knew who the owners of this new project were (based on published liquor license changes), but waited for additional details to further confirm the project scope.
Consisting of a 20,000 square foot brewery restaurant, a 12,000 square foot banquet facility, and approximately 60,000 square foot water feature, and approximately 2000 square foot Amphitheatre, and a 10,000 square foot facility reserved for future use… along with approximately 450 parking spaces, associated traffic circulation, and driveway access.
Aura Road Brewery/Restaurant – Glassboro Resolution 2023
The core of the potential Glassboro project is the Brewpub, Outdoor Event Space, and Banquet facility… which will all surround a beautiful man-made lake feature (with a small island). These aspects will be developed on the wider section of the property which is the half closest to Ellis Mill Road.
Gardens, patios, pavilions and other accessory buildings and features will accompany the full project.
Documents state that the goal is to develop the project in three phases, with the Lake, BrewPub and outdoor event space being developed first.
The full property is almost 15 acres and runs along Richwood-Aura Road (with Route 55 as the opposite border).
With the Urban Village Restaurant/Brewery as the signature aspect of the project, that building and associated parking will be positioned at the southern end of the property (closest to the traffic signaled intersection).
With the Brewpub parking area developed into the intersection corner, the building will be spaced back from Ellis Mill Road, with the lake developed past the building. The BrewPub will feature an extended patio dining area in the rear, positioned to take advantage of the beautiful lake views. The lake shoreline nearest the brewpub will be developed with a boardwalk.
The outdoor event lawn space and performance platform will be developed alongside of the BrewPub, but still with direct access (and views) of the lake. Plans show a separate smaller structure to support food service/restrooms for the event space area.
As mentioned, the banquet facility would be developed in a second phase and would be positioned on the other side of the lake from the Urban Village Restaurant/Brewery. When developed it will have its own dedicated parking area and a large outdoor patio… again positioned to take advantage of the beautiful lake views.
The third building is defined as “future use”, so let’s call that phase three. Its planned position is much further from the Ellis Mill Road intersection and is not really integrated into the lake/brewpub/banquet segment. Likely it is a separate commercial aspect for the project that just happens to be in the same extended property.
Urban Village Brewing in Philadelphia (seen here) has plans for a new large location in Glassboro NJ
At this time a Planning or Redevelopment Committee meeting has not been scheduled, but Glassboro has seen some aspects of the plan in order to initiate the redevelopment plan ordinance.
But keep in mind they project has moved on to multiple entities for review and approval this year, so it would appear ownership is focused on moving this project forward.
Links and Location
Urban Village Brewpub and Banquet Facility
Aura Road at Ellis Mill Road
Glassboro NJ
Urban Village Brewing – Philadelphia
1001 N 2nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123
Website