June 30, 2025 • 20 mins
Tucked away in Vero Beach sits an extraordinary 24,000 square foot piece of World War II history that nearly faced demolition. Instead, it became the home of Walking Tree Brewery, a testament to what happens when passion meets perseverance, even during tough economic times.
Meet Mike and Brooke, the husband-and-wife team who transformed this abandoned 1940s naval aviation supply warehouse into one of Florida's distinctive craft breweries. What makes their story remarkable isn't just the jaw-dropping Douglas fir trusses soaring overhead or the clear 160-foot span that leaves first-time visitors momentarily speechless. It's the raw courage it took to leave stable jobs during economic uncertainty and survive what they affectionately call the "rice and beans years."
"We were literally selling artwork at sidewalk fairs so that we could keep food on the table," Brooke reveals, describing the eighteen months between Mike leaving his lumber yard job and the brewery generating income. Their entrepreneurial journey began when Florida had just 50 craft breweries (compared to today's 430), spotting an opportunity that required tremendous vision.
Perhaps most refreshing is their candid approach to business ownership. Brooke shares how transparency about mistakes has helped them maintain staff in an industry known for high turnover.
Ready to experience this remarkable space and story yourself? Visit Walking Tree Brewery Tuesday through Sunday and witness how dreams can ferment into reality with enough determination and a historic building worth saving.
Presented by Killer Bee Marketing
Helping local businesses in Vero Beach connect with their neighbors.
Support The Show
Keep It Local. Keep It Going
Be sure to connect with us on Instagram at @myverobeachdotcom
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, well, welcome back to the Vero Beach Podcast.
I'm Brian and I'm Shawna, andtoday we are sitting right here
at the Walking Tree Brewery withBrooke and Mike.
You guys, thank you guys somuch for allowing us to come and
hear your story, get to knowmore about both of you and about
the Walking Tree.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
Absolutely.
Yeah, we're excited.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Well, right now we're sitting in the.
This is the restaurant sectionyou said.
Is that correct?
Speaker 4 (00:22):
Correct.
So this is Salvador Deli, whichhas been here in our facility
since August of last year.
We went our first eight and ahalf years without food on site,
and so we were food trucks andthat fun for quite a long time.
And after some work with thecity to get our parking figured
(00:46):
out, we put the restaurant inlast year and it's been a lot of
fun.
It's great to have food now andI don't have to bring my
lunches often.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
So that's good.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
So, yeah, it's great, they're doing a great job.
So it's Courtney Cotherman, andthen Linda Moore and Rick
Norrie.
Rick and Linda own KiltedMermaid downtown.
Rory, rick and Linda own KiltedMermaid downtown, oh yes.
And then Courtney has workedfor them for the last 10 years,
and so this is Courtney's, andRick and Linda are a part of it
and they're doing a great job.
The food's awesome.
We're just excited to have arestaurant here.
(01:15):
You drink more beer when youeat food that is true, it's
longer?
Speaker 1 (01:18):
yeah, absolutely.
We've been to the KiltedMermaid several times and love
it out there as we get ready togo into your guys's story, I got
a couple things to ask.
This is the first time we'vebeen to the brewery and I was
surprised of how big it is.
That is huge out there and isvery well put together.
I love the whole atmosphere, sowe're definitely gonna have to
come here while you're open,because right now you're closed.
Uh on, you're closed on mondays, right?
(01:40):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (01:40):
we are.
Are you open?
Speaker 1 (01:41):
on tuesday.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
We're open six days a week, so Tuesday through Sunday
.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Tell me a little bit about it before we get into your
stories.
There's something special aboutthis building because this is a
big building.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
So architecturally the space is very, very unique
for Florida.
People that visit from up northdon't expect to see a structure
like this still standing orexisting down here.
We are a clear span building of160 feet, 120 feet wide, 240
(02:13):
feet long.
It's 24,000 square feet Builtin the early 40s it was a naval
aviation supply warehouse whenthere was a base here during
World War II.
Oh wow, very shortly after thebuilding was completed, the base
was decommissioned.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
War was over, right yeah post-World War II, they
decommissioned the base and gaveeverything to the city.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
But it is built like a tank and it is.
It is.
It's just amazing having thepeople that walk in in here and
we have literally had people askare those faux finished fake
beams in the ceiling?
(02:56):
And no, they are original WorldWar II era clear span Douglas
fir trusses.
It's amazing that constructiondoesn't.
They don't build them like thatanymore.
So when we found this building,I think that we all kind of
decided that this had to be homeand it was potentially being
slated for demolition.
It was in possession of thecity.
It had been empty for thebetter part of seven years.
(03:17):
Very difficult to find a tenantfor it.
It had been split down themiddle for two different tenants
for a very long time.
A tenant for it.
It had been split down themiddle for two different tenants
for a very long time, but ithad been sitting empty for a
significant time.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
It needed a lot of work and then we came along and
we were like we'll just take itas is and do it all.
So it was a lot of work tobring it up to what it looks
like today.
We did two years of renovationsand construction before we
opened.
So we actually acquired thebuilding in the middle of 2014,
but didn't open our doors to thepublic until June of 16.
I had nightmares aboutconstruction for quite a long
time after getting it done Well.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Thank you for saving this beautiful building, because
I did not expect this at all.
So when we walked in, our jawsdropped, I mean, we did not
realize.
So we were looking around and,oh man, just what a vibe.
I can't wait to come hang outhere.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
Yeah, I can always tell when people who come here
for the first time because theydo they walk in and they stop
and they just look up at theceiling and like kind of just
look around and they're a littlebewildered for the first couple
of minutes because there isn'ta lot of structures like this,
with a clear, open building likethis, where you can see all the
brewing equipment andeverything's just wide open.
(04:32):
So there's it's.
It's pretty unusual, but welove it.
It's a, it's a, it's a labor oflove for sure.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
We just caught a glance, right before we walked
in here, about the old livingroom.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Yeah, the vintage living room Looks super cool.
So yeah the vintage living roomlooks super cool.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
So most of that furniture used to be in this
room.
So before it was a restaurant,this was.
We called it the arbitrarium,because it was just random
things that people dropped offor she had found.
So this used to be a privateevent space so we would have
baby showers and birthdayparties and stuff in this room.
So when we turned this into arestaurant, we were like, what
are we going to do with all thisfurniture?
(05:05):
So we created that.
That is so cool.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
So what did you two do before you acquired this
building and got the brewerygoing so?
Speaker 3 (05:14):
immediately before this.
Mike and I married about sixyears before the doors opened
here, and it only took us aboutthree years to realize that this
was something that we weregoing to do.
So we spent a lot of timebusiness planning and trying to
figure out how to find money,because we needed help there to
(05:35):
make this happen.
I homeschooled our children.
He worked with a rail spur in alumber yard down south in Fort
Pierce.
I lost my job during thehousing crash with an interior
design firm, so the timing onthat was about the same exact
(05:57):
time we got married.
I basically became unemployedand got hitched.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
Yeah, about what was it about a month before the
wedding?
Yeah, yeah, a little bit of achange, yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Yeah, really, what really encouraged you guys to go
all in for this?
Speaker 4 (06:09):
So I had been homebrewing since 2007.
I'd always loved to cook and abuddy of mine had moved up to
Seattle for a handful of yearsand then moved back.
And when he moved back, he cameand we were hanging out.
He goes, mike, you know, we canmake our own beer, no.
So I started home brewing withhim and was immediately hooked.
(06:29):
And in the early you know, 2008to 2011, the brewing industry
in the United States, the craftbrewing industry, was just on
fire.
So when we were writingbusiness plans in 2012, 2011,
there were 50 breweries inFlorida.
There are 430, I think,currently.
Wow, so back then that was it.
(06:50):
Like people were openingbreweries.
They were doing great Seemedlike a good idea at the time.
You know, we wanted to dosomething else.
I was in a job that was boring,I just wasn't being fulfilled
and she actually encouraged meto quit and I did.
I just left.
We were doing art and sellingit on at street fairs and stuff
(07:10):
like that, and we made thishappen.
So it was.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
It was a big jump what you're sharing about the
economy during the economy crashbecause that was the first time
and only time I've lost a jobwas, and that time is, in 2010.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
He can't say the word , but it was the first and only
time he got fired.
Yeah, fired.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Yeah, I laid off.
Yeah, they fired me.
Yeah, same thing.
Yeah, it's the same thing.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
I basically had to look at my boss and go Are you
just going to rip the Band-Aidoff?
Can you just do it?
Just get it done with?
Nobody wanted it to happen.
But there was no work and itwas pretty rough.
But this was the fortitude of Icall them the rice and beans
(08:01):
years At the very, very end,construction and construction
projects.
Much like the industry I camefrom, I would always tell a
client it's going to cost twiceas much as you think.
It's going to take me twice aslong than I tell you, because
that's just the nature of thebusiness People want what they
want.
They're going to get what theypay for.
And it was the same thing here.
(08:23):
Things took longer than weexpected and towards the end,
you know, of trying to get these, the doors open, we were
literally selling artwork atsidewalk fairs so that we could
keep food on the table.
I had threads in my coming outof my tires, like it was.
(08:45):
It was the end.
You know it goes crash and burntime.
Are we got to make it?
Speaker 4 (08:50):
Yeah, it was a year and a half from when I left the
lumber yard until this startedpaying us.
Wow, yeah, it was rough, but Igot really good at turning bowls
on the lathe and making riceand beans.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
and making rice and beans, what were some of the
thoughts going through yourguys' heads?
Because I think a lot of timespeople look at businesses and
they only see the highlights,especially with social media.
Today, they see the highlightsand they were happy and they
were.
You know the basic you had thebasics.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
You only needed the basics because all you could get
were the basics.
So it was easy to have funbecause you had to create fun.
You know we're raising twolittle kids that that walked
through this and you want themto be optimistic and know that
we're we're going there's thistrajectory coming that we're
heading to be optimistic andknow that we're going.
There's this trajectory comingthat we're heading towards and
this is what we're working for.
We met and we're basicallymarried.
(09:54):
14 months after we met, heproposed to me on our first year
anniversary.
Sure did, without a ring.
Yeah, she still said yes,though.
Speaker 4 (10:03):
So that's what matters, yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
We're celebrating 15 years this month.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Wow, congrats, happy anniversary.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
And so it was a matter of we're a blended family
.
He's basically adopted ourchildren, and I'd been married
before to someone who hated whatthey did for a living, and they
did it just for money, and theydid it just for money and I was
pretty adamant that there's noway we have a future together if
you're not doing something thatyou like.
(10:35):
There's nothing worse than aman who hates what he does for a
living.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
Yeah, and then we had gotten into business planning.
I was homebrewing.
I had met the gentleman whohelped start this.
His name's Alan Drittenbass.
So him and I startedhomebrewing together hard, like
every other weekend, crazywriting business plans, and we
were both still working fulltime.
And what it really came down towas I knew that if I didn't
(11:02):
leave work and focus a hundredpercent, that it would never
actually happen.
It would just stay that thatdream like oh, we could have,
but I can't take the risk.
So.
So we had a little bit of moneysaved and I gave I gave my job
a two months notice and I said,hey, I'll train my replacement,
(11:24):
but this is it and I'm leavingand I'm going to open a brewery.
Yeah, and if you know, if Ihadn't left, it probably
wouldn't have happened.
It was like, okay, now I don'thave a job and a hundred percent
of my focus is on whatever wehave to do to get this done.
When we walked in this buildingfor the first time, we all
looked at each other and go okay, this is it, we just have to
figure out how to make it happen.
(11:44):
And we did.
You know it was negotiating withthe city, because this is still
a city-owned building.
They gave it to us, as is atriple net lease.
So this we basically own thebuilding, but we don't, so a
hundred percent of therenovations, the taxes,
everything is on us.
So we act like we own it, butit's still technically a city
building.
But our lease isn't over.
I'll be 75.
I'm 45, right.
(12:05):
So we have 30 years left on alease and we're 10 years in.
Rent is very reasonable andit's big enough that we never
have to move.
That's what a lot of smallstartup breweries run into is.
You rent that four to 5,000square feet, you do really well
and you're stuck, and then youhave to build a whole nother
facility three years after youbuilt the first one.
This has allowed us to grow inour own footprint and not have
(12:27):
to move, which is great.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
I'm guessing there's probably a story behind you
guys' name Walking Tree Brewery.
Now, I did read something aboutit, I think it was on your
Instagram.
It says Trees walk.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
I've seen it.
So it is not some greatgrandiose spiritual story, it's
pretty basic.
I homeschooled both of our boys, and the reason I did it is
because I had one that just wasnot doing well in school.
I wanted him to be able to slowdown and learn at a pace that
would keep him interested inlearning, because he was
crossing this threshold which Ithink happens to a lot of
children these days where,because they're not operating at
(13:08):
the same speed that the systemkind of requires, it becomes
combative.
And I wanted him to be excitedabout trying to figure out what
he had to learn next.
And the day came where thesystem was kind of looking at me
and saying we're going to issuehim a scribe, someone to do his
writing for him, and I was likethe hell you are.
(13:28):
You know he needs to learn towrite.
Like what, what are we talkingabout here?
And so it just kind of becamethis no brainer.
All we did was Florida studiesfor the first year, everything
Florida, so that we could gothere and see it and touch it
and be in it.
So a lot of local history, alot of science at the beach, a
lot of in the mangroves, a lotof just local environmental
(13:52):
learning center and just thelocal museums, and how could I
keep them?
Where this is tangible, you cantouch it, look, let's have fun.
And we fell in love with thisbook series called the
Adventures of Charlie Pierce.
I highly recommend reading them.
They are little children'snovellas but they're a great
adult read also.
(14:12):
And it's a beautiful story ofthe first settling family in
this area that gave birth tokids here.
So the children were some ofthe first Florida well,
non-natives, but Florida, youknow, immigrants moving in,
being born right after the CivilWar and from these stories is
kind of the stem of the AudubonSociety these children kind of
(14:34):
gave birth to, becameenvironmentalists for Florida, a
lot of connections with theSeminole Indians and Tiger
Bowlegs who is one of the chiefSeminoles from this area, and a
lot of post Seminole War kind ofstories that were going on area
and a lot of post-Seminal Warkind of stories that were going
on, a lot of cool shipwreckthings.
So just really really neathistorical books.
(14:54):
And in it there was a referenceto the mangroves where one of
the Native American Indians herereferred to the mangrove as the
tree that walks, and so we kindof Googled it and we would
paddleboard and kayak a lot andand always had an affinity for
some of the mangrove forests inthe area and catching the crabs
(15:15):
and all the creepy, gross stuffthat grows in the mangroves and
you know, boys and and foundthat that was actually a
reference that the nativeAmericans here referred to it as
the tree that walks.
Now the walking tree is thebanyan, so India, the banyan
tree is referred to as thewalking tree, but no one wants
to go to the tree that walksbrewery and then have the same
(15:38):
ring.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
So we noticed your aquarium with the mangrove trees
in it, and our son's trying todo that right now.
He loves bonsai and things likethat, so he's trying to grow
that.
So we might have to get sometips from you how to make that
work.
Don't touch it and just let itgo.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
Yeah, and keeping your water to be brackish it's
the salt content is what youreally need to work on.
So, yeah, we've grown all ofthose from proper Yule seeds.
So when we opened, you knowthey were six inches tall, and
now they're.
We actually have to trim themevery occasionally, so they
really are like our littlemangrove bonsais.
They've been here the wholetime.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
But we've had scientists from like the
Smithsonian.
You know they're confused,they're like how do you, how do
you?
Speaker 4 (16:20):
do that Apparently.
It's really difficult, butwe've never had an issue.
I'm not real sure we don'tclean the tank enough.
They're definitely part of thefamily.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
As business owners.
What are some of the thingsthat you've learned and what has
been like a memory that reallystands out?
Speaker 3 (16:34):
So it's kind of like a combo with advice to the world
out there, like this is whatwe've learned.
Oh man, so we never owned abusiness before Not really, and
not with people and I think thatthe smartest thing that I've
(16:54):
learned is I don't know shit anddon't pretend like you do,
because that will get you introuble.
Don't hold on so tight to whatyou think you know, because that
makes you unapproachable and itmakes it difficult for staff
that you want to be happy andwhen you screw up, screw up out
in the open for everyone to see,so that they can see you stand
(17:18):
up, brush yourself off, lookaround and go.
Oh man, did you guys just seeme screw up?
I'm really sorry.
I'll do better next time.
Do you have any advice to keepme from screwing up in the
future?
Those lessons are the ones thathave caused or helped us not
lose staff, probably helped somestaff make a decision to stay
(17:42):
instead of leave, as they'vegrown with us.
We have people that areoriginal, like we.
We don't have a lot ofturnaround here, and I think
that's because well, I know me Ihave had the unique ability of
being able to eat a lot of crow.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
So, Brooke, you mentioned about how it was
different running a businesswith people.
It is such a different vibethan just launching a business
like a self-owned businessversus bringing on a team.
It's scary.
A lot of pressure, you don'tknow.
People, people, all of us bringour own baggage and experiences
and past that we don't knowabout.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Yeah, I had someone, uh, so just a word picture.
Talk about, uh, business ownersgoing through life with you
know, dragging their little redred wagon behind them, right,
like they had their businessidea.
It's their idea, it's theirs,it's my business, my little red
wagon.
And they're just walkingthrough life and the next thing,
you know, you turn back and youlook and like what is wrong
with my little red wagon andthere's all these little
(18:37):
children.
And it's like get off my wagon,but you need them.
Some of them are dragging theirfeet, some are hitting the
other kids on the wagon, butnonetheless it's your little red
wagon and you've got to get theright parts and pieces and all
the right you know in there.
Otherwise, you know, trying todrag this little red wagon along
(18:59):
without you know everyone being, you know, a disaster.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
I love the little red wagon.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
I like that, yeah, that.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
In college.
I remember it was about gettingthe right people on the bus,
but man, the little red wagon.
I love that picture.
Well, this has been a greatfirst episode, you guys.
Thank you guys for sharing yourstory.
I'm excited to get to the nextepisode, where we're going to
talk a little bit about behindthe scenes what it's like behind
the scenes for you guys.
With that, you guys, thank youfor tuning in.
If you've enjoyed this podcastepisode, make sure you leave us
(19:28):
a review.
Hey, well, welcome back to the Vero Beach Podcast.
I'm Brian and I'm Shawna, andtoday we are sitting right here
at the Walking Tree Brewery withBrooke and Mike.
You guys, thank you guys somuch for allowing us to come and
hear your story, get to knowmore about both of you and about
the Walking Tree.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
Absolutely.
Yeah, we're excited.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Well, right now we're sitting in the.
This is the restaurant sectionyou said.
Is that correct?
Speaker 4 (00:22):
Correct.
So this is Salvador Deli, whichhas been here in our facility
since August of last year.
We went our first eight and ahalf years without food on site,
and so we were food trucks andthat fun for quite a long time.
And after some work with thecity to get our parking figured
(00:46):
out, we put the restaurant inlast year and it's been a lot of
fun.
It's great to have food now andI don't have to bring my
lunches often.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
So that's good.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
So, yeah, it's great, they're doing a great job.
So it's Courtney Cotherman, andthen Linda Moore and Rick
Norrie.
Rick and Linda own KiltedMermaid downtown.
Rory, rick and Linda own KiltedMermaid downtown, oh yes.
And then Courtney has workedfor them for the last 10 years,
and so this is Courtney's, andRick and Linda are a part of it
and they're doing a great job.
The food's awesome.
We're just excited to have arestaurant here.
(01:15):
You drink more beer when youeat food that is true, it's
longer?
Speaker 1 (01:18):
yeah, absolutely.
We've been to the KiltedMermaid several times and love
it out there as we get ready togo into your guys's story, I got
a couple things to ask.
This is the first time we'vebeen to the brewery and I was
surprised of how big it is.
That is huge out there and isvery well put together.
I love the whole atmosphere, sowe're definitely gonna have to
come here while you're open,because right now you're closed.
Uh on, you're closed on mondays, right?
(01:40):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (01:40):
we are.
Are you open?
Speaker 1 (01:41):
on tuesday.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
We're open six days a week, so Tuesday through Sunday
.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Tell me a little bit about it before we get into your
stories.
There's something special aboutthis building because this is a
big building.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
So architecturally the space is very, very unique
for Florida.
People that visit from up northdon't expect to see a structure
like this still standing orexisting down here.
We are a clear span building of160 feet, 120 feet wide, 240
(02:13):
feet long.
It's 24,000 square feet Builtin the early 40s it was a naval
aviation supply warehouse whenthere was a base here during
World War II.
Oh wow, very shortly after thebuilding was completed, the base
was decommissioned.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
War was over, right yeah post-World War II, they
decommissioned the base and gaveeverything to the city.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
But it is built like a tank and it is.
It is.
It's just amazing having thepeople that walk in in here and
we have literally had people askare those faux finished fake
beams in the ceiling?
(02:56):
And no, they are original WorldWar II era clear span Douglas
fir trusses.
It's amazing that constructiondoesn't.
They don't build them like thatanymore.
So when we found this building,I think that we all kind of
decided that this had to be homeand it was potentially being
slated for demolition.
It was in possession of thecity.
It had been empty for thebetter part of seven years.
(03:17):
Very difficult to find a tenantfor it.
It had been split down themiddle for two different tenants
for a very long time.
A tenant for it.
It had been split down themiddle for two different tenants
for a very long time, but ithad been sitting empty for a
significant time.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
It needed a lot of work and then we came along and
we were like we'll just take itas is and do it all.
So it was a lot of work tobring it up to what it looks
like today.
We did two years of renovationsand construction before we
opened.
So we actually acquired thebuilding in the middle of 2014,
but didn't open our doors to thepublic until June of 16.
I had nightmares aboutconstruction for quite a long
time after getting it done Well.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Thank you for saving this beautiful building, because
I did not expect this at all.
So when we walked in, our jawsdropped, I mean, we did not
realize.
So we were looking around and,oh man, just what a vibe.
I can't wait to come hang outhere.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
Yeah, I can always tell when people who come here
for the first time because theydo they walk in and they stop
and they just look up at theceiling and like kind of just
look around and they're a littlebewildered for the first couple
of minutes because there isn'ta lot of structures like this,
with a clear, open building likethis, where you can see all the
brewing equipment andeverything's just wide open.
(04:32):
So there's it's.
It's pretty unusual, but welove it.
It's a, it's a, it's a labor oflove for sure.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
We just caught a glance, right before we walked
in here, about the old livingroom.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Yeah, the vintage living room Looks super cool.
So yeah the vintage living roomlooks super cool.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
So most of that furniture used to be in this
room.
So before it was a restaurant,this was.
We called it the arbitrarium,because it was just random
things that people dropped offor she had found.
So this used to be a privateevent space so we would have
baby showers and birthdayparties and stuff in this room.
So when we turned this into arestaurant, we were like, what
are we going to do with all thisfurniture?
(05:05):
So we created that.
That is so cool.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
So what did you two do before you acquired this
building and got the brewerygoing so?
Speaker 3 (05:14):
immediately before this.
Mike and I married about sixyears before the doors opened
here, and it only took us aboutthree years to realize that this
was something that we weregoing to do.
So we spent a lot of timebusiness planning and trying to
figure out how to find money,because we needed help there to
(05:35):
make this happen.
I homeschooled our children.
He worked with a rail spur in alumber yard down south in Fort
Pierce.
I lost my job during thehousing crash with an interior
design firm, so the timing onthat was about the same exact
(05:57):
time we got married.
I basically became unemployedand got hitched.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
Yeah, about what was it about a month before the
wedding?
Yeah, yeah, a little bit of achange, yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Yeah, really, what really encouraged you guys to go
all in for this?
Speaker 4 (06:09):
So I had been homebrewing since 2007.
I'd always loved to cook and abuddy of mine had moved up to
Seattle for a handful of yearsand then moved back.
And when he moved back, he cameand we were hanging out.
He goes, mike, you know, we canmake our own beer, no.
So I started home brewing withhim and was immediately hooked.
(06:29):
And in the early you know, 2008to 2011, the brewing industry
in the United States, the craftbrewing industry, was just on
fire.
So when we were writingbusiness plans in 2012, 2011,
there were 50 breweries inFlorida.
There are 430, I think,currently.
Wow, so back then that was it.
(06:50):
Like people were openingbreweries.
They were doing great Seemedlike a good idea at the time.
You know, we wanted to dosomething else.
I was in a job that was boring,I just wasn't being fulfilled
and she actually encouraged meto quit and I did.
I just left.
We were doing art and sellingit on at street fairs and stuff
(07:10):
like that, and we made thishappen.
So it was.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
It was a big jump what you're sharing about the
economy during the economy crashbecause that was the first time
and only time I've lost a jobwas, and that time is, in 2010.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
He can't say the word , but it was the first and only
time he got fired.
Yeah, fired.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Yeah, I laid off.
Yeah, they fired me.
Yeah, same thing.
Yeah, it's the same thing.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
I basically had to look at my boss and go Are you
just going to rip the Band-Aidoff?
Can you just do it?
Just get it done with?
Nobody wanted it to happen.
But there was no work and itwas pretty rough.
But this was the fortitude of Icall them the rice and beans
(08:01):
years At the very, very end,construction and construction
projects.
Much like the industry I camefrom, I would always tell a
client it's going to cost twiceas much as you think.
It's going to take me twice aslong than I tell you, because
that's just the nature of thebusiness People want what they
want.
They're going to get what theypay for.
And it was the same thing here.
(08:23):
Things took longer than weexpected and towards the end,
you know, of trying to get these, the doors open, we were
literally selling artwork atsidewalk fairs so that we could
keep food on the table.
I had threads in my coming outof my tires, like it was.
(08:45):
It was the end.
You know it goes crash and burntime.
Are we got to make it?
Speaker 4 (08:50):
Yeah, it was a year and a half from when I left the
lumber yard until this startedpaying us.
Wow, yeah, it was rough, but Igot really good at turning bowls
on the lathe and making riceand beans.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
and making rice and beans, what were some of the
thoughts going through yourguys' heads?
Because I think a lot of timespeople look at businesses and
they only see the highlights,especially with social media.
Today, they see the highlightsand they were happy and they
were.
You know the basic you had thebasics.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
You only needed the basics because all you could get
were the basics.
So it was easy to have funbecause you had to create fun.
You know we're raising twolittle kids that that walked
through this and you want themto be optimistic and know that
we're we're going there's thistrajectory coming that we're
heading to be optimistic andknow that we're going.
There's this trajectory comingthat we're heading towards and
this is what we're working for.
We met and we're basicallymarried.
(09:54):
14 months after we met, heproposed to me on our first year
anniversary.
Sure did, without a ring.
Yeah, she still said yes,though.
Speaker 4 (10:03):
So that's what matters, yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
We're celebrating 15 years this month.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Wow, congrats, happy anniversary.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
And so it was a matter of we're a blended family
.
He's basically adopted ourchildren, and I'd been married
before to someone who hated whatthey did for a living, and they
did it just for money, and theydid it just for money and I was
pretty adamant that there's noway we have a future together if
you're not doing something thatyou like.
(10:35):
There's nothing worse than aman who hates what he does for a
living.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
Yeah, and then we had gotten into business planning.
I was homebrewing.
I had met the gentleman whohelped start this.
His name's Alan Drittenbass.
So him and I startedhomebrewing together hard, like
every other weekend, crazywriting business plans, and we
were both still working fulltime.
And what it really came down towas I knew that if I didn't
(11:02):
leave work and focus a hundredpercent, that it would never
actually happen.
It would just stay that thatdream like oh, we could have,
but I can't take the risk.
So.
So we had a little bit of moneysaved and I gave I gave my job
a two months notice and I said,hey, I'll train my replacement,
(11:24):
but this is it and I'm leavingand I'm going to open a brewery.
Yeah, and if you know, if Ihadn't left, it probably
wouldn't have happened.
It was like, okay, now I don'thave a job and a hundred percent
of my focus is on whatever wehave to do to get this done.
When we walked in this buildingfor the first time, we all
looked at each other and go okay, this is it, we just have to
figure out how to make it happen.
(11:44):
And we did.
You know it was negotiating withthe city, because this is still
a city-owned building.
They gave it to us, as is atriple net lease.
So this we basically own thebuilding, but we don't, so a
hundred percent of therenovations, the taxes,
everything is on us.
So we act like we own it, butit's still technically a city
building.
But our lease isn't over.
I'll be 75.
I'm 45, right.
(12:05):
So we have 30 years left on alease and we're 10 years in.
Rent is very reasonable andit's big enough that we never
have to move.
That's what a lot of smallstartup breweries run into is.
You rent that four to 5,000square feet, you do really well
and you're stuck, and then youhave to build a whole nother
facility three years after youbuilt the first one.
This has allowed us to grow inour own footprint and not have
(12:27):
to move, which is great.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
I'm guessing there's probably a story behind you
guys' name Walking Tree Brewery.
Now, I did read something aboutit, I think it was on your
Instagram.
It says Trees walk.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
I've seen it.
So it is not some greatgrandiose spiritual story, it's
pretty basic.
I homeschooled both of our boys, and the reason I did it is
because I had one that just wasnot doing well in school.
I wanted him to be able to slowdown and learn at a pace that
would keep him interested inlearning, because he was
crossing this threshold which Ithink happens to a lot of
children these days where,because they're not operating at
(13:08):
the same speed that the systemkind of requires, it becomes
combative.
And I wanted him to be excitedabout trying to figure out what
he had to learn next.
And the day came where thesystem was kind of looking at me
and saying we're going to issuehim a scribe, someone to do his
writing for him, and I was likethe hell you are.
(13:28):
You know he needs to learn towrite.
Like what, what are we talkingabout here?
And so it just kind of becamethis no brainer.
All we did was Florida studiesfor the first year, everything
Florida, so that we could gothere and see it and touch it
and be in it.
So a lot of local history, alot of science at the beach, a
lot of in the mangroves, a lotof just local environmental
(13:52):
learning center and just thelocal museums, and how could I
keep them?
Where this is tangible, you cantouch it, look, let's have fun.
And we fell in love with thisbook series called the
Adventures of Charlie Pierce.
I highly recommend reading them.
They are little children'snovellas but they're a great
adult read also.
(14:12):
And it's a beautiful story ofthe first settling family in
this area that gave birth tokids here.
So the children were some ofthe first Florida well,
non-natives, but Florida, youknow, immigrants moving in,
being born right after the CivilWar and from these stories is
kind of the stem of the AudubonSociety these children kind of
(14:34):
gave birth to, becameenvironmentalists for Florida, a
lot of connections with theSeminole Indians and Tiger
Bowlegs who is one of the chiefSeminoles from this area, and a
lot of post Seminole War kind ofstories that were going on area
and a lot of post-Seminal Warkind of stories that were going
on, a lot of cool shipwreckthings.
So just really really neathistorical books.
(14:54):
And in it there was a referenceto the mangroves where one of
the Native American Indians herereferred to the mangrove as the
tree that walks, and so we kindof Googled it and we would
paddleboard and kayak a lot andand always had an affinity for
some of the mangrove forests inthe area and catching the crabs
(15:15):
and all the creepy, gross stuffthat grows in the mangroves and
you know, boys and and foundthat that was actually a
reference that the nativeAmericans here referred to it as
the tree that walks.
Now the walking tree is thebanyan, so India, the banyan
tree is referred to as thewalking tree, but no one wants
to go to the tree that walksbrewery and then have the same
(15:38):
ring.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
So we noticed your aquarium with the mangrove trees
in it, and our son's trying todo that right now.
He loves bonsai and things likethat, so he's trying to grow
that.
So we might have to get sometips from you how to make that
work.
Don't touch it and just let itgo.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
Yeah, and keeping your water to be brackish it's
the salt content is what youreally need to work on.
So, yeah, we've grown all ofthose from proper Yule seeds.
So when we opened, you knowthey were six inches tall, and
now they're.
We actually have to trim themevery occasionally, so they
really are like our littlemangrove bonsais.
They've been here the wholetime.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
But we've had scientists from like the
Smithsonian.
You know they're confused,they're like how do you, how do
you?
Speaker 4 (16:20):
do that Apparently.
It's really difficult, butwe've never had an issue.
I'm not real sure we don'tclean the tank enough.
They're definitely part of thefamily.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
As business owners.
What are some of the thingsthat you've learned and what has
been like a memory that reallystands out?
Speaker 3 (16:34):
So it's kind of like a combo with advice to the world
out there, like this is whatwe've learned.
Oh man, so we never owned abusiness before Not really, and
not with people and I think thatthe smartest thing that I've
(16:54):
learned is I don't know shit anddon't pretend like you do,
because that will get you introuble.
Don't hold on so tight to whatyou think you know, because that
makes you unapproachable and itmakes it difficult for staff
that you want to be happy andwhen you screw up, screw up out
in the open for everyone to see,so that they can see you stand
(17:18):
up, brush yourself off, lookaround and go.
Oh man, did you guys just seeme screw up?
I'm really sorry.
I'll do better next time.
Do you have any advice to keepme from screwing up in the
future?
Those lessons are the ones thathave caused or helped us not
lose staff, probably helped somestaff make a decision to stay
(17:42):
instead of leave, as they'vegrown with us.
We have people that areoriginal, like we.
We don't have a lot ofturnaround here, and I think
that's because well, I know me Ihave had the unique ability of
being able to eat a lot of crow.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
So, Brooke, you mentioned about how it was
different running a businesswith people.
It is such a different vibethan just launching a business
like a self-owned businessversus bringing on a team.
It's scary.
A lot of pressure, you don'tknow.
People, people, all of us bringour own baggage and experiences
and past that we don't knowabout.
Speaker 3 (18:17):
Yeah, I had someone, uh, so just a word picture.
Talk about, uh, business ownersgoing through life with you
know, dragging their little redred wagon behind them, right,
like they had their businessidea.
It's their idea, it's theirs,it's my business, my little red
wagon.
And they're just walkingthrough life and the next thing,
you know, you turn back and youlook and like what is wrong
with my little red wagon andthere's all these little
(18:37):
children.
And it's like get off my wagon,but you need them.
Some of them are dragging theirfeet, some are hitting the
other kids on the wagon, butnonetheless it's your little red
wagon and you've got to get theright parts and pieces and all
the right you know in there.
Otherwise, you know, trying todrag this little red wagon along
(18:59):
without you know everyone being, you know, a disaster.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
I love the little red wagon.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
I like that, yeah, that.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
In college.
I remember it was about gettingthe right people on the bus,
but man, the little red wagon.
I love that picture.
Well, this has been a greatfirst episode, you guys.
Thank you guys for sharing yourstory.
I'm excited to get to the nextepisode, where we're going to
talk a little bit about behindthe scenes what it's like behind
the scenes for you guys.
With that, you guys, thank youfor tuning in.
If you've enjoyed this podcastepisode, make sure you leave us
(19:28):
a review.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.