Victory Brewing Company’s Kennett Square brewpub will be located in Magnolia Place, a mixed-use development under construction at Mill Road and West Cypress Street. An architect’s rendering shows what the brewpub should look like when it opens in 2014.

A win for local craft beer lovers:  Victory Brewing Company is coming to Kennett Square.

The nation’s 26^th largest craft brewery announced that it signed a lease with Kennett Square Realty and is committed to developing an upscale brewpub, with on-premise brewing and a takeout beer component in the bottom floor of Magnolia Place, a four-story, luxury apartment building at West Cypress Street and Mill Road.

“The announcement is a culmination of nearly a year’s worth of planning and effort, and we couldn’t be more excited than we are today to finally confirm for our excited fans, who have been asking, that yes we are in fact headed to Kennett!” Matthew Krueger, vice president of retail operations, said in a news release.

Victory’s second brewpub location will occupy all 8,234 square feet of the bottom floor of the building, part of an upscale townhome, apartment and retail community.  Kennett Realty is owned and operated by the Pia Group, who also own Kaolin Mushroom Farms Inc. and South Mill Mushroom Sales, the release said.

“We could not have found a better partner than the Pia family, a group that shared—and are now helping us realize—our vision to bring Victory to Kennett,” Krueger said, a sentiment echoed by Mike Pia Jr., vice president of the Kennett Realty Group.

“Victory’s mission to provide high quality food, a family-friendly environment, and of course, delicious craft beer, all with a focus on community, ethics and environmental stewardship, made them an ideal partner for this project,” said Pia.  “We’re looking forward to the exceptional experience they’ll bring to the community of Magnolia Place and the greater Kennett Square area.”

Called Victory at Magnolia, the location will accommodate a 250-seat restaurant with space for outdoor dining, and boast a chef-inspired menu, featuring some of the company’s signature dishes, including their Hand Tossed Pretzel and Wings of Victory.  The space also will be equipped with a five-barrel brew house to keep new, site-specific brews – along with Victory’s existing lineup of world-class ales and lagers – flowing.

Victory at Magnolia is targeted to open in the second quarter of 2014.  The brewery also is finishing construction on its second production brewery in Parkesburg, slated to be operational this fall.

Victory Brewing Company is a privately held craft brewery headquartered in Downingtown. Begun by Bill Covaleski and Ron Barchet, childhood friends who met on a school bus in 1973, the brewery formally began operations in February 1996. Victory, Pennsylvania’s widely acclaimed brewery and restaurant, now serves fans of fully flavored beers in 30 states with innovative beers melding European ingredients and technology with American creativity. To learn more about Victory Brewing Company visit  www.victorybeer.com.

Kennett Square Realty is a second-generation real estate acquisition, development, and management company.  Kennett Square Realty’s development is focused on infill projects in communities with vibrant downtown’s throughout Chester County. Magnolia Place is a 112-unit mixed-use townhouse and apartment development located in Kennett Square Borough.