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Right Proper Brewing Co., the听D.C. brewery that has听operated听for the past 12 years, is expanding again with a new location opening in听Eckington听next spring.听听

What began as a single restaurant and bar next to the Howard Theater on U Street has now grown into an operation that oversees production and distribution in Delaware and all over the DMV.听听

Still, the company says its focus is on bringing value to D.C. neighborhoods and making high quality 鈥渂eer flavored beer.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of like a Cheers situation,鈥� said Bri DeOrsey, a bartender at Right Proper鈥檚 Brookland bar and production facility.听听

DeOrsey has worked at the bar for eight years, one of the only employees who has been on staff since before the pandemic. In addition to bartending, DeOrsey also handles event coordination and other responsibilities for the company. 听

She said that, even with the company鈥檚 expansions,听it鈥檚听still a neighborhood spot, with a neighborhood feel.听听

鈥淭his was an old autobody shop,鈥� she said, referring to the Brookland location. “There are neighbors who still remember it as that.鈥� 听

While the company strives to keep the vibe local, customers like Bob Woodward and Jocelyn Nieva make the journey, regardless of the distance.听

鈥淭here are no great breweries near our house,鈥� said Nieva. The two, who live near American University, routinely bike the seven miles to enjoy a drink at the Brookland location.听听

鈥淲e鈥檝e been coming here for years, and we love it.鈥� Upon hearing the news that a new location is opening in听Eckington, they both agreed it would be 鈥渙ne more place to drink.鈥�听

The new location in Eckington will be the largest of the company’s three locations, though it will be similar to the Shaw location. The overall focus will be to bring value to the community.听

鈥淭hey don鈥檛 really have a restaurant over there,鈥� said Thor Cheston. He and his wife Leah Cheston co-own the business. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking forward to being of service to the community,鈥� he said.听听

According to Thor Cheston,听construction at听the听Eckington听facility started听two weeks ago, but听there鈥檚听no official opening date yet.听听

鈥淲e would love to have an official date,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s of right now,听Maypril.鈥�听

While the brand is successful, the focus听remains听on making high-quality products. 鈥淲e could sell more than we鈥檙e actually producing,鈥� said Chris Broome, head听brewer听and production manager for the company.听听

Broome has been with Right Proper for about two years but has been a brewer for听10.听听

He said that while other breweries are focused on new and unique, Right Proper is leaning into four core beers, keeping things simple with a focus on the details.听听

The choice to keep a limited product line reinforces the company鈥檚 overall goal of reducing cost and increasing quality, he said. 听

鈥淲hen you think of D.C. craft beer, we want you to think of Right Proper,鈥� Broome said. 鈥淲e听aren鈥檛听trying to re-invent the wheel.听We鈥檙e听making beer flavored beer at the highest quality possible.鈥�听

At current capacity, Right Proper brews and distributes about 5,000 barrels of beer per year. Current plans to expand capacity in the next six to 12 months are underway, with a goal of 6,500 barrels per year.听听

Going beyond that, however, would be a challenge.听听

鈥淭he more tanks you have, the more space you need for raw materials,鈥� Broome said.听听

Since raw materials for beer making attract rodents, the production facility also employs Prima, to help combat pests.听听

鈥淧rima is a working cat,鈥� Broome says. 鈥淟ots of breweries have them.鈥�

Prima is just one of several ways the Right Proper has been able to innovate through the volatility of recent years. Partnerships such as Zeke鈥檚 Coffee, which听operates听inside the Brookland location, allow the shop to offer something that otherwise听wouldn鈥檛听be on the menu.听听

鈥淶eke鈥檚 is very good at making and serving coffee, and we are really bad at it,鈥� said Thor Cheston. 鈥淲e鈥檙e听not going to pretend we know what听we鈥檙e听doing, so听we鈥檙e听going to get people who听do. We make听very good听beer and听we鈥檙e听going to stick to what we know.鈥�听

For Leah鈥疌heston,鈥痠t鈥檚鈥痑lso about being able to pivot.鈥�鈥�听

鈥淪ometimes it still feels like we鈥檙e surviving the pandemic,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou just keep going.鈥濃��鈥�听

She鈥痵aid she鈥痑nd her husband both worked in the restaurant industry鈥痑nd started Right Proper because they saw a need for more places in D.C. where you could get a relaxed, comfortable environment and good affordable food.鈥�鈥�听

Over the years, she learned it鈥痙oesn鈥檛鈥痭ecessarily get easier.听听

鈥淭here鈥檚 no destination really,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou just get better at flexing.鈥濃��听

Like her husband, Leah鈥疌heston鈥痚xpressed excitement about becoming a part of the鈥疎ckington鈥痗ommunity.鈥�鈥�听

鈥淲e identified鈥疎ckington鈥痑s a place that needed more amenities,鈥� she said.鈥�鈥�听

The 5,500 square foot location will seat 180, and will feature a full kitchen, but smaller brewing capacity. While there will unfortunately be no brew cat because of the restaurant,鈥痵he said鈥痶he kitchen is sure to be its own draw.鈥�鈥�听

鈥淧eople forget we have really good food,鈥� Leah鈥疌heston鈥痵aid.鈥�鈥�听鈥�听

The new facility will be听located听at 1625鈥疎ckington鈥疨lace, NW.鈥�鈥�听