Urban Lodge Brewery is planned to open in Downtown Storrs in fall 2026, replacing Barnes and Noble which closed at the end of last year.
Kyle Muncy, director of the University of Connecticut brand partnerships and trademark management, said the university has leased to the Barnes and Noble on 1 Royce Circle since 2016, but as the contract was nearing its end, they discussed more efficient ways to use the university’s space downtown. Muncy said most people shop at the official bookstore on Hillside Road.
As the UConn Brewing Innovation — an initiative where students can take classes and learn about the craft beer industry — was growing in popularity and looking for space, Muncy said they saw the location as a good opportunity for the partnership with Urban Lodge.
The new brewery, which already has two other locations in Manchester and Hartford, will be a hybrid space that will host students for the brewing innovation classes in the morning and then transition into a bar and eatery in the afternoon and evening.
“It is really going to be a much better strategic use of that particular space,” Muncy said.
Urban Lodge Brewery partnered with UConn’s brewing innovation a few years ago to offer academic programming for 60 students a semester. Muncy said several hundred students are on a waiting list that would like to participate in the course, and with the new brewery close to campus, more classes could be offered in the future.
“It’s something that students today are looking for: unconventional opportunities through their educational engagement,” he said.
It goes beyond beer too, he said, adding that the academic programming includes elements such as how to run a business or restaurant and marketing.
Muncy said they have explored opportunities such as including adult education classes on the weekends for members of the general public, too.
Michael Gerrity, co-owner of Urban Lodge, said he is looking forward to working with more students and with the campus population and Mansfield residents as a whole. In addition to classes, he hopes the brewery can be a place for people to watch a UConn sports game, get food or drinks and socialize.
Gerrity said people can view their menu online to see what food they will offer. He said they will have live music at times and host events like trivia night.
“We offer a lot of great elevated pub fare,” he said. “So between burgers, fries, sandwiches, a couple small entrees, and a lot of good shareables, I think that’s kind of the recipe that we’ve had.”
However, he and Muncy said while the brewery will be open all day, it will close earlier in the night.
“We’re going to be very intentional about how the space is used,” Muncy said. “It is not going to be a late-night bar.”
The roots of Urban Lodge have always been in Connecticut. Gerrity said he and his brother-in-law decided to open their first location in Manchester after they started home brewing in 2016. Once they opened their second location in Hartford, they soon became an official sponsor of UConn Athletics.
“As a small business, it’s hard to sustain, to grow and so to be a small part of UConn is super exciting to us, and we’re very grateful for the opportunity,” Gerrity said.