EL CAJON (CBS 8) - El Cajon is welcoming a brand new addition in the hopes it will revitalize the downtown area. The El Cajon Brewing Company opened Monday, thanks to some help from the city.
East County residents are thrilled finally have a good microbrewery close to home.
"We chose El Cajon, no breweries here, look at a map of San Diego -- there's 40 breweries in San Diego, none here in El Cajon, East County," co-owner David Meadows said.
Meadows and his brother are the owners of the new El Cajon Brewing Company, which has been two years in the making. Meadows had a microbrewery in Sweden for many years, and four of the beers on tap are his own creations.
They chose El Cajon after seeing a demand, but no supply there. So David and his brother Steve invested $250,000 of their own money, got a loan and a grant from the City of El Cajon, and are hoping their unique flavors, 40 different varieties of beer, and good food bring business to Main Street in El Cajon.
"We can offer up really good beer and really good food. We've been working with our executive chef on a menu that has beer in everything," David said.
They've also brought jobs to the city. Of the 600 applicants, they've hired about 50 employees, some one whom had been laid off, are so thankful to have a job and be part of the birth of the El Cajon Brewing Company.
"We're happy to have one finally. There are only a couple of places out here to get a beer and some good food, so it's about time," a customer said.