After years of brewery plans that fizzled out, Simi Valley is finally on the verge of getting a hometown taproom. Simi Valley Brewing Company is aiming to open this summer at 20 W. Cochran Street, turning the long-empty former Marie Callender’s into roughly 8,400 square feet of taproom, production space and a shaded patio. The team is targeting a June opening, although that timing still depends on inspections and liquor license approvals.
Who is behind the taproom
The project is led by Ali Zia, co‑founder of Tarantula Hill Brewing and former Bottle & Pint executive, restaurateur Phil Adler, and brewer Daniel Price, according to the company, which lists the team on its Simi Valley Brewing Company site. The partners say they want the venue to be a full-service restaurant and neighborhood gathering spot with year-round events and live music. The site also includes a contact email and promises regular updates as construction moves along.
What they will be pouring and serving
On the beer side, the focus will be West Coast IPAs and lagers with a constantly rotating lineup, and Daniel Price has been tapped as head brewer, as reported by What Now. The kitchen is expected to lean into traditional pub fare with an emphasis on barbecue, while also offering seafood and vegan options. Inside, the dining room is planned to hold about 200 customers, with room for roughly another 200 on the patio.
A long vacant corner gets a second chance
The corner of Cochran and Madera has sat empty since Marie Callender’s closed and was once promised to other brewery projects that never opened, local reporting shows. Coverage from Clair.id traces the site’s stalled history, while city planning documents list recent permit activity tied to 20 W. Cochran. City leaders have framed the buildout as a boost for downtown foot traffic and dining choices.
What is next
The team says inspections and California ABC permitting will ultimately dictate the opening date, though the tentative target remains June 2026. For the latest progress updates, the company is posting on its Simi Valley Brewing Company site and social channels. If permitting and buildout stay on track, the new brewery could be a major addition to Simi Valley’s downtown dining scene this summer.
