02/20/2026
Side Quest! The Center for Community Design and Preservation was lucky enough to score a private tour of the newly opened Grizzle Beer Brewery in Monroe, GA. The project, undertaken by The Eulalia Group, saw the reuse of a former Ford Dealership in the downtown historic district as a brewery and taproom. Our Master of Historic Preservation students, faculty, and CCDP crew were given a tour of the space by the head brewer and Athens resident, Erin Boydstun, and we were able to hear about the reuse of a historic building from the perspective of a small business co-founder.
Fun fact: The event space in the back of the brewery houses painted signs from when the space operated as a Ford Dealership, and the signs were preserved and restored!
The Grizzle Beer tour concluded with a presentation and Q+A session facilitated by Chad Draper, the founder of The Eulalia Group. We were able to hear about his journey toward founding the vertically integrated real estate, development, construction, and property management business, The Eulalia Group. His real-world experience and knowledge gave us insight into the application of historic preservation tax credits and community grants.
Just as we thought the fun was over, Chad surprised us with a walking tour of The Eulalia Group’s properties in downtown Monroe. We were able to walk through a commercial space whose lobby has been converted into a rotating gallery. The Eulalia Building’s gallery currently houses the experiential exhibit, “Wish You Were Here,” an amazing example of the relationships between history, memory, preservation, and community engagement.
We had such an amazing time learning from Chad and the Grizzle Beer crew, and we cannot wait for more opportunities like this. Thank you to everyone who made this tour possible!
