CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – A familiar Downtown Charlottesville address is preparing for its next chapter.

The team behind The Fitzroy is transforming the former South Street Brewery building into South Street Tavern, a new sports bar concept that aims to preserve the building’s legacy as a community gathering place.

Co-owner and longtime Charlottesville resident Richard Ridge said the opportunity to take over one of Charlottesville’s most recognizable restaurant spaces was one the ownership team couldn’t pass up.

“The space is gorgeous and one of a kind,” Ridge told Cville Right Now. “We’ve loved operating a Downtown Charlottesville business for the past ten years, and the opportunity to develop another at such a storied location was a big draw for us.”

Ridge has deep roots in the community, attending Albemarle High School in the 1990s before returning to Charlottesville in 2009.

While The Fitzroy has established itself as a Downtown destination, Ridge said South Street Tavern will offer a distinctly different experience.

“We’re going to deliver a true sports bar atmosphere,” he said. “Televisions, game audio, bar snacks, draft beer — that’s the experience we’re creating.

The tavern will occupy a building that housed South Street Brewery for nearly 30 years, making it a place filled with memories for many Charlottesville residents. Ridge said preserving that sense of community is a priority.

“This address has long been a gathering place and we’re looking to carry on that tradition,” he said. “Creating an environment where people meet, connect, and re-connect is what I love most about doing all of this. When you can do something like that, that’s when you’re truly offering something to your community.”

He also hopes longtime South Street Brewery patrons will help shape the tavern’s future.

“I would love to hear their stories of their favorite moments in the space,” Ridge said. “We’re looking to build on that history and we’d love for them to be a part of this next chapter.”

Renovations are already underway after the ownership team officially began its lease on July 1. Because of an ambitious timeline, improvements will happen in two phases.

“Our goal is to open up by the end of August,” Ridge said. “With this tight time frame we’ll carry out renovations over two phases. One will take place this summer and the second will occur next summer.”

Many of the building’s defining features will remain intact.

“There’s a lot about the space that we don’t want to change,” Ridge said. “The bricks, the beams, the fireplace — these are all things that make the place feel so warm and welcoming.”

One noticeable difference, however, will be the removal of the former brewery equipment.

“There is no longer any brewing equipment in the space,” Ridge said. “That area is now a beautiful original brick-walled side room that will be a unique space for our guests to enjoy.”

If construction stays on schedule, South Street Tavern is expected to open the weekend of the first University of Virginia football game.

Looking ahead, Ridge said success won’t just be measured by sales, but by the atmosphere inside the building.

“Full, loud, and fun,” he said. “People coming Downtown and making memories.”

And after guests leave, he hopes they’ll walk away with more than just a good meal.

“‘I saw some old friends and maybe made a few new ones,'” Ridge said. “That’s what we hope people are saying after their first visit.”