Penguin City Brewing Starts Youngstown Renovations
The Youngstown brewery is adding restrooms, a wheelchair lift and a redesigned ballroom wall ahead of a spring 2027 target.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Home Renovation
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Penguin City Brewing Co. has begun renovations at its 37,000-square-foot Youngstown brewery, an historic industrial property it opened in 2022. Guests currently must use the lower level for restrooms, and the work will add restrooms within the rear ballroom area along with a wheelchair lift to the second level.
Why it matters
The upgrades address accessibility and guest-facing amenities at a Youngstown venue that has operated in a converted industrial building since 2022. Restroom access on the lower level and the absence of a wheelchair lift to the second floor are the gaps the project is designed to close.
The brewery spans 37,000 square feet and is being renovated by MVP Contracting with design work by A Neider Architecture. Cost figures and additional scope items have not yet been disclosed.
The players
Penguin City Brewing Co.
A Youngstown brewery that began contract brewing in 2018 and opened in a historic industrial property in 2022, now undertaking a major renovation of its 37,000-square-foot facility.
MVP Contracting
The general contractor guiding the renovations at the Penguin City Brewing facility in Youngstown.
A Neider Architecture
The architecture firm led by Annissa Neider that is designing the restroom additions and ballroom wall for the Youngstown brewery renovation.
The details
Penguin City Brewing Co., owned by Aspasia Lyras-Bernacki and Richard Bernacki, is adding restrooms within the rear ballroom area and a wheelchair lift to the second level. The ballroom is also receiving a new design for its back wall, with Annissa Neider of A Neider Architecture leading the design work.
Timeline
2018: Penguin City Brewing began contract brewing.
2022: The brewery opened in its historic industrial property in Youngstown.
Spring 2027: Target completion of the renovations.
Industry Context
Many breweries have opened in converted industrial buildings, where older layouts often require retrofits such as added restrooms and lifts to meet modern accessibility expectations. Penguin City's project fits that pattern of adapting historic structures for visitors after the initial opening.
Guests at the Penguin City Brewing location in Youngstown currently must go downstairs to use restrooms, and the planned additions will place restrooms in the rear ballroom area. A wheelchair lift to the second level will also change how visitors with mobility needs move through the building once the work is complete.
The takeaway
Adaptive reuse projects like this one often add accessibility features after opening, so visitors planning trips to renovated venues may want to check amenity details in advance. Target completion for this project is spring 2027.
Further reading
For related coverage, explore Home Renovation in Youngstown.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cleveland.
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