NORFOLK, Va. - A new business has just opened in the Ocean View section of Norfolk that is both a brewery and a coffee shop. News 3 recently got a tour of COVA Brewing Company.
“Our tagline is, 'Something is always brewing at COVA,'” said Dr. Philip Smith, a co-owner of COVA Brewing Company.
Dr. Smith works as a physician during the day and took a job in the Hamptons Roads area a few years ago. He said he really loved the Ocean View area.
COVA Brewing Company has been in the works for Ocean View over the last two years.
Dr. Smith explains why they were interested in this location, “The proximity to the beach, the evolving residential neighborhood around the East Ocean View area really represented what we thought was a great opportunity to put something of value in the community.”
It’s located right near Pretty Lake Avenue and Shore Drive.
“My wife and I are long-time Ocean View residences and we wanted this for the community,” said Scott Bateman, another co-owner of COVA Brewing Company, “I think that this is the most exciting thing that I’ve accomplished as a resident here in Ocean View.”
The beer is self-serve. Customers get a card, go to the tap wall, pour what they want and pay by the ounce.
“We have all the beers you could expect. We have cider. We also have nitro beer, we have wine on tap,” said Bateman, “We want to make sure we have something for everybody to drink.”
They have special procedures in place to adhere to the state regulations concerning coronavirus. Masks are required inside.
They also have sanitizers all over, extra cleaning procedures, and have customers use fresh glasses when they come back to the tap wall.
The brewing company also have turned the parking lot into a seating area.
Bateman said the COVID-19 pandemic made things more difficult, but it also forced them to slow down which was also a blessing.
“We weren’t so rushed to get things going. It’s slower pace down. We decided let’s open when we’re ready and not try to force it so the pandemic really gave us a pause that was much needed in the process,” said Bateman.
Now they’re happy to be open to serve a community they love.
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