Slipcast Brewing has finally put shovels in the ground for its long teased riverfront project, kicking off construction on a $5 million, 8,000-square-foot brewery and gastropub at East Sixth Street and Riley Boulevard in downtown Franklin.
The founders, a group of five craft brewing veterans, are pitching the spot as a regional draw that will plug directly into the city's broader Main Street streetscape work. A brief ceremony on Tuesday marked the official start of site work along the river-side edge of downtown, with the team now aiming for an early 2027 opening after earlier target dates slid.
According to the Dayton Business Journal, the build will pack a taproom, full kitchen and flexible event space inside the 8,000-square-foot footprint. The roughly $5 million investment is designed to support both on site production and an active gastropub calendar, a combination the team hopes will lure local regulars and out of town beer hunters into downtown Franklin.
City records show how the deal came together. As outlined in Franklin City Council documents, the city sold the parcels to Riley Real Estate LLC in 2024 under a development agreement that requires construction of a brewery and taphouse. The same files note that the developer requested, and received, a short extension to the original construction deadline while site work and coordination with the streetscape project moved ahead.
Local coverage on Slipcast dates back to 2024, when reporters first flagged an 8,000-square-foot space expected to seat about 150 people and act as an anchor for Franklin's downtown revival. Early reporting from the Dayton Daily News pegged the initial price tag at roughly $3.5 million with a target opening in summer 2025, numbers that have since been revised as plans and costs evolved.
What The Taproom Will Look Like
Plans filed with the city and reporting from the Journal-News outline a 15 barrel brewing system, seating for roughly 150 patrons and on site parking that includes several dedicated stalls. Slipcast Brewing lists the address as 33 E. 6th Street and notes that the operation will feature a full kitchen and a steady calendar of community events. The layout is intended to handle everyday service while still having room for special events and partnerships with local groups.
Downtown Impact And Incentives
City officials have repeatedly cast Slipcast as a cornerstone in the broader downtown makeover, pairing it with roughly $13 million in Main Street streetscape work meant to make the riverfront more walkable and welcoming. Business View Magazine has described the brewery as an anchor piece in that strategy. The site sits inside a designated Community Reinvestment Area, which can offer tax incentives for redevelopment and has become a key part of Franklin's pitch to investors.
Timeline And What's Next
Developers say construction is now underway and that they are planning for an early 2027 opening, according to the Dayton Business Journal. City meeting files show the developer secured an additional nine months under the purchase and development agreement, a tweak that mirrors the shifting timeline as the team worked through streetscape coordination and permitting. Neighbors can expect to see crews along Sixth Street through the rest of 2026 as utility work, foundations and the building shell take shape.
Brian Willett and his fellow founders, described as engineers and brewing veterans, are leading the build, according to the Journal-News. As the project moves from dirt piles to drywall and, eventually, a busy taproom schedule, community leaders will be watching to see whether Slipcast delivers the crowds and energy they are counting on for Franklin's riverfront comeback.
