Something for Everyone in the Alley

When Enegren Brewing became a Moorpark fixture for beer lovers five years ago, there was no inkling that this industrial park setting would eventually draw a confluence of like-minded entrepreneurs. Enter Lucas Sellers Wine, a winery and tasting room owned by Kimberley and Luigi Lucas.

“We wanted to be in an industrial area,” says Kimberley Lucas. “We talked to Chris Enegren and he was immediately excited about it.”

The arrival of this rustic-yet-elegant store across from Enegren’s German-style beer hall initiated the series of commercial roll-up doors with a welcoming atmosphere known as The Alley in Moorpark. With licensing, seating, umbrellas and string lights in place, the family-friendly interior row became a place where guests could sit outside to enjoy their beverage of choice.

John Bird, co-owner of Enegren and its official “Master of Festivities,” says the idea of creating a common area similar to a biergarten holds appeal for couples and groups composed of beer drinkers as well as wine drinkers.

Another enticing component of The Alley is The Craft House, owned by Kelley Hanson, a DIY expert whose mission was to create a place for a variety of different instructor-led workshops.

“We have a DIY bar and over 25 local handmade retailers in the store,” says Hanson. Classes include hand lettering, glass etching, macramé and more. Hanson encourages crafters and non-crafters to shop, learn, DIY and gather for workshops, parties, events or a girls’ or guys’ night out. As of early November, The Craft House is also serving beer and wine.

Next up for the Alley (opening mid-late winter) is a coffee roasterie and bar operated by Will and Jen Sayre, proprietors of the online California Coffee Republic.

“We’ll have all the espresso drinks you’d expect at a specialty café [and] teas and drinks for kids and non-beer and -wine drinkers,” says Jen Sayre. “We are excited to be a part of the artisanal offerings there.”

While the Sayres are contemplating the perfect pastries and other goodies to go with their drinks, they’re also thrilled to be sharing their Alley space with Aaron Running and his Fire & Vice kitchen, set to open as soon as plans are cleared by the city, likely spring 2020. Running, a restaurateur, is owner of the highly rated Copenhagen Sausage Garden in Solvang. The Fire & Vice menu will consist of foods to complement everyone’s favorite Alley beverage, with artisan-made sausage, award-winning charcuterie, stone-fired pizza, fresh flame-broiled burgers, schnitzel, giant pretzels with homemade cheese sauce, and salads.

It was the effervescent John Bird who initially contacted Running about making full use of the space alongside the Sayres’ coffee roasterie. Bird has a contagious enthusiasm for all aspects of The Alley, with its beer, wine, coffee, food and crafts converging in a locale equally enjoyable for adults, children and dogs.

“[Patrons] will have a full experience within this,” he says. “People don’t even know we’re back there and then you look down the alleyway and you see how beautiful it is. We’ve made ourselves a gathering place for Moorpark and a new destination for out-of-towners to realize how awesome Moorpark is!”

The Alley Moorpark | 444 Zachary St., Moorpark
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