Afterglow Brewing has struck a purchase agreement to take over the former Bold Mariner building on East Ocean View Avenue, setting up a second Norfolk location in a neighborhood that just lost one of its longtime beermakers. Owner Josh Evans says the site gives his growing brewery room to build out a kitchen, expand production and widen its reach across the region.
According to WTKR, Afterglow announced the purchase agreement to acquire the building, with Evans saying the property offers the brewery long-term stability and freedom to grow. He described the move as a reflection of community support, saying the second location will bring Afterglow's community atmosphere and beer to Ocean View.
The new spot is slated to include a full kitchen offering food, an expanded brewing facility for producing original beer, a selection of wines and more space for the tasting room, per the station's report. Evans said the upgrades are meant to increase beer production and reach more customers through distribution, positioning the Ocean View building as both a gathering spot and a production hub for the brand.
Targeting Early 2027, With Conditions
Evans said Afterglow is shooting for the first quarter of 2027 to open the doors, though he cautioned that the timeline depends on renovations and approvals, the same account notes. No details on the renovation schedule, project cost or staffing plans have been released.
The building itself carries a decade of brewing history. Bold Mariner Brewing Company, which WAVY reported was located at 1901 E Ocean View Avenue, closed its doors after 10 years in business. The brewery had originally eyed the Ocean View property as a second location before deciding to move all of its operations there, according to Coastal Virginia Magazine, which had earlier reported on Bold Mariner's plans to relocate to the 7,000-square-foot Ocean View site.
Part of a Rougher Stretch for Local Breweries
Bold Mariner had announced on Instagram in November that it planned to sell its Ocean View property, according to WHRO. The station's reporting places that sale inside a broader wave of closures, noting that three Norfolk breweries announced they were shutting down in 2025.
That pullback mirrors a national pattern. WHRO cites a New York Times report that more breweries closed than opened in 2025, the first time that had happened in 20 years, a sign that the craft beer boom of the 2010s has cooled considerably.
Not every local brewery is shrinking, though. WHRO also points to Coastal Fermentary, which opened a second Newport News location in 2025 around the same time it acquired Rip Rap Brewing, showing that expansion is still possible even as the industry overall contracts. Afterglow's bet on the old Bold Mariner building suggests it's hoping to follow that same path, turning a closure into room to grow.
