Brewpub owners buy building as they pour passion into future growth

By Sara Schilling sara@tcjournal.biz

Back when Mike and Dashia Hopp opened Bombing Range Brewing Company, they figured they needed to sell $300 worth of beer a day to cover rent and equipment payments.

Now seven years later, “we’ve surpassed that,” Dashia said with a chuckle.

That’s an understatement.

The Hopps have turned the Richland brewery into a Tri-Cities hotspot.

Their beers – from the golden Days Pay IPA to the Bavarian-style Awannaweizen Hefeweizen – have a large and loyal fan base, and so do the pizzas they serve up while the taps are flowing.

A few years back, the Hopps opened a second venture: The Dive, serving burgers, drinks and more.

Now, they’re taking another major step: they’re buying the building at 2000 Logston Blvd. that’s home to both Bombing Range Brewing and The Dive. The building is owned by the Port of Benton, and port commissioners in June authorized the $1.7 million sale. It’s expected to close this month.

The purchase means the Hopps will be able to expand the brewing area at Bombing Range, allowing them to increase beer production significantly. They’re planning to add a 15-barrel system, which they’ll use in addition to the seven-barrel system that’s already in place.

They also have plans to add more seat-