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ASHLAND BREWERY EXPANDS Ashland's Standing Stone Brewery owners to open Medford brew pub and restaurant Plans call for 15 brewing barrels, seating for 280 Comment By Damian Mann For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Damian Mann For the Tidings Posted Apr. 1, 2015 at 5:15 PM Updated Apr 1, 2015 at 5:16 PM By Damian Mann For the Tidings Posted Apr. 1, 2015 at 5:15 PM Updated Apr 1, 2015 at 5:16 PM » Social News Medford’s downtown development will get a boost later this year when two of the owners of the popular Ashland restaurant Standing Stone Brewery open a new brew pub just north of the Lithia Motors headquarters, adjacent to Pear Blossom Park. “This is a great step,” said Mark DeBoer, Lithia’s vice president of real estate, of plans for the brew pub and restaurant. “We’ve got a successful local business owner." Common Block Brewing Company will open in the green Monarch building immediately east of Pear Blossom Park, converting the inside into a larger brewery than the one in Ashland. Garage doors on the west side will open on warm summer months, offering views into the park, where diners can listen to live music on the outdoor stage. The Monarch building, which will be leased to Common Block by Lithia Realty, is on North Apple Street, between Fourth and Fifth streets. Owners of Common Block, Alex and Danielle Amarotico, plan to install a 15-barrel system for brewing craft beer, up from the 10 barrels at the Ashland location. Common Block will have 280 seats compared with 190 at Standing Stone. The interior will be similar to Standing Stone in Ashland, where the barrels are placed on a mezzanine above the dining area. Plans call for an indoor-outdoor bar and a patio with a gas fireplace. Up to 60 full and part-time employees will be hired for the new restaurant. If all goes as planned, the owners hope to open in September. Alex Amarotico said there will be more than $1 million invested in equipment inside the building for the brewery, kitchen and dining area. He said the Pacific Northwest-style of beer featured at Standing Stone will be featured at the new location. A “hop back” system will let brewers use fresh hops, which will allow for greater flexibility in brewing, Amarotico said. Standing Stone has 10 owners, Amarotico said. He said it hasn’t been determined yet whether he and his wife will continue to be a part of Standing Stone after Common Block is operational. “We are waiting to see what happens there,” he said. While downtown Medford doesn't have the tourism traffic of downtown Ashland, Amarotico said he thinks the brewery will be a success. He said what’s missing in Medford’s downtown is a large venue that attracts a wide variety of people, from those just wanting a beer to families who want to bring their children. “A lot of the allure for us was the indoor-outdoor seating,” Amarotico said. The Monarch building, with its distinctive Streamline Moderne style of architecture, has curved features, including a curved window. Built in 1947, the "Leever Motor Company" building became Medford's first Dodge dealership. In the 1970s, the building became the Monarch Seed and Feed store. Lithia and the Medford Urban Renewal Agency have made about $500,000 in improvements to the Monarch building. Standing Stone’s owners have a penchant for older buildings. The Ashland location is in The Whittle Garage Building, which was built in 1925 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. Amarotico said residents in Ashland originally questioned whether Standing Stone would survive, because so many other restaurants in the downtown had failed. But it not only survived, it thrived. Amarotico said he thinks Medford, like Ashland, is ready for a large-scale brewery and restaurant. “It’s my belief that there are a lot of great opportunities in the downtown,” he said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow on Twitter at @reporterdm .   By Damian Mann For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Damian Mann For the Tidings Posted Apr. 1, 2015 at 5:15 PM Updated Apr 1, 2015 at 5:16 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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