As reported in the pages of Wallyhood way back in February 2023, Magnolia mainstay Figurehead Brewing was planning an expansion to a new, second location at 3513 Stone Way. The owners had been hoping to open in October 2023, but issues with permitting delayed construction for several months. After some bureaucratic touch-and-go, the long wait is over and the new space will be rolling open their doors to the public on Tuesday, April 16 at 11:00am.
Co-owner Bob Monroe was kind enough to invite me to their soft opening this past Sunday afternoon. The build-out is impressive. The rugged gutted space I had visited over a year ago is now comfortably filled with plenty of table, window, and bar seating, as well as two options for food—Midnite Ramen and Osaka Street Food—which are more than food trucks; this is their fixed location, making the whole space feel a bit more like a minature European food hall than just a taproom
In the middle of it all is an intimate outdoor courtyard with a young katsura tree (species Cercidiphyllum japonicum) as the centerpiece and a wall of bamboo as the backdrop. The music was chill, and on a 60 degree Sunday afternoon, I doubt there was a better place in the neighborhood to be.
The 12-beer taplist defies the usual Pac NW options—on this day there was only one IPA flowing. What’s on tap included two English ales, a couple of saisons, a stout, a brown, and a blonde. Figurehead’s speciality beer available at this location only is a Japanese rice lager—a complement to the food choices, and maybe a nod to the centerpiece tree.
Shockingly I stuck to beer on my Sunday visit, but other beverage options include cider, wine, alcoholic and non-alcoholic kombucha, sake, tea, and nitro cold brew coffee. Something for just about everyone.
While Figurehead’s Magnolia location has regular events, including vinyl night, a Bob Ross Challenge, and more, Bob Monroe says they don’t yet have solid plans to feature any specific special events at their Stone Way spot. That could come later, as the clientele begins to define itself and Figurehead gets to know what the people in their new neighborhood want.
You can follow their Instagram to see what’s next, but for now, the diverse beer selection, wonderful food options, and a sweet vibe are all you need. And well worth the wait.