At a time when many craft breweries are closing their doors, Urban Lodge Brewing Company is booming. So, what's their secret? Smart growth. While their delicious beer and community-oriented business strategy are key to the recipe for success, so is expert guidance from Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CTSBDC) Advisor Shelly Koehler.
Co-owners—and brothers-in-law—Michael Gerrity and Ryan Fagan started brewing together on a porch, but when they decided to turn their hobby into a business in 2019, they had to find a space. When they found a long-defunct nightclub ready to become the first Urban Lodge, they also met Manchester's Downtown Manager who immediately connected the team with CTSBDC's Koehler, who can often be found just down the street from Urban Lodge at WORK SPACE. "After a couple days I called Shelly and it turns out to be one of the best phone calls I made," says Gerrity. From forming a business plan to creating projections and learning about balance sheets, Shelly helped the burgeoning business understand everything they needed to know to get started on the right foot.
Business starts are par for the course with CTSBDC advisors, but when Gerrity and Fagan ran into their first hiccup, Koehler was also there. Back then, Urban Lodge was going to be White Porch Brewing, but like many businesses before them, they quickly realized it was too close to another business name. Koehler connected them to an intellectual property attorney who advised it was best to change the name before they were too attached to it. So, a search for a new name ensued. Since Gerrity and Fagan are married to the Lodge sisters—and were setting up shop in an urban area—they hit on the name Urban Lodge.
Armed with a new name, a hefty owner investment, and help from their CTSBDC Advisor, the newly named Urban Lodge secured an SBA 7A Loan with Key Bank to turn the defunct night club into a cozy lodge with an urban edge.
Urban Lodge: From Manchester to Hartford to Storrs
Family was the starting point for this business, so it’s no surprise Urban Lodge has focused largely on community, which turned out to be a great growth strategy. As a part of downtown Manchester, Gerrity says he quickly realized how important the annual Manchester Road Race is to the business. It's often the busiest day of the Manchester location's whole year, so becoming the official brewery of the race and creating their “Mile 5” beer was a no-brainer. And if you visit the patio, you can still see one of the runner statues developed to promote the race.
Urban Lodge became a part of a new community in 2023 when it opened its Pratt Street location in Hartford. As the new location was underway, Gerrity knew they would need to expand their brewing capacity. He says, "When we first started, we would make beer and we would sell out of it every week... So back to the SBA we went." This time, though, he also turned to the State of Connecticut’s Boost Loan program.
Urban Lodge combined a 7A loan through Webster Bank, and a Boost Loan to quadruple its brewing capacity in a new space dedicated to production and open its new Pratt Street location. And that increased capacity turned out to be even more important than the team knew, as UConn game nights entered the picture.
When thousands of Huskies basketball fans show up for game night, all the bars and restaurants in downtown Hartford fill up. Urban Lodge introduced its beer "UConn Territory" as a homage, but it did not stop there. Thankful for the business bump, Gerrity was thrilled to help when UConn's Brewing Innovation students needed a place to try out their recipes. Urban Lodge happily opened the doors at its new production facility, allowing students to get hands-on experience and engage in the end-of-semester "Battle of the Brews."
In Spring of 2026, Urban Lodge opened its third location at Bradley International Airport, representing a homegrown business that embodies the entrepreneurial spirit of Connecticut. But it's the fourth—still under construction—location that came from its collaboration with UConn. Yes, Urban Lodge is gearing up for another expansion, this time at a Storrs location, complete with space for student brewers and their beer on tap.
Continuing to grow with CTSBDC’s help
Scaling the business with intention has been key to Urban Lodge's success. Growing from their first Manchester location to Hartford to Bradley International Airport, and—up next—UConn, has allowed the company to scale its revenue making all the hard work and long nights pay off. He says that since starting the business, and connecting with Koehler, revenue has increased by 10x. They have grown to 48 employees over that time.
And Urban Lodge is not done growing. All eyes are on finishing and opening the UConn location, but eventually, Gerrity hopes to open another location that contains both its larger brewing set-up and a tap room. Koehler is helping him to assess his options and put a three-to-five-year plan in place to guide the company's growth.
With CTSBDC’s support helping them navigate each stage of growth, Urban Lodge is doing more than expanding its footprint. It creates new gathering places, new opportunities, and a lasting connection to the communities it serves. So, what advice does this rapidly expanding business have for others looking to get started or grow? "I would go to the SBDC early, because they know so much more. They've seen so many other businesses. They've had thousands of versions of me come through their door," says Gerrity. "They'll help get you to where you want to be a lot faster than if you were to try to do it on your own."