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Brooklyn brewery Niteglow clears California license hurdle for Chinatown taproom

Brooklyn brewery Niteglow clears California license hurdle for Chinatown taproom

Rule Changes Los Angeles, CA local

The dual Dayglow coffee-and-beer venue at 843 N Spring Street moves closer to opening after a 13-month wait

August 21st, 2026: California ABC license goes active

Overview

Updated 33 minutes ago

Niteglow Beer Company's California liquor license went active August 21, 2026, clearing a major regulatory hurdle for the Brooklyn farm brewery's first Los Angeles taproom. The venue at 843 N Spring Street in Chinatown is designed to serve Dayglow Coffee by day and Niteglow beer at night.

The brewery planned to open in late July 2025. The 13-month gap shows how slowly California's alcohol-permitting process moves. Whether the dual-concept space succeeds will determine if Niteglow expands to a second Los Angeles location at Ovation Hollywood.

Why it matters

This opening tests whether one storefront can profitably switch from morning espresso to evening craft beer - a hybrid model that has tripped up many venues.

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Key Indicators

1
Active type 23 license
California ABC small beer manufacturer license for the Chinatown venue.
386 days
Delay between planned opening and license
Niteglow targeted late July 2025 for the Chinatown opening; the ABC license went active August 21, 2026.
2
Planned Los Angeles locations
The Chinatown taproom plus a second, beer-only Niteglow taproom at Ovation Hollywood.

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People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

July 2025 August 2026

2 events Latest: August 21st, 2026 · 4 weeks ago
  1. California ABC license goes active

    Latest Regulatory

    The state activates Niteglow's type 23 small beer manufacturer license for 843 N Spring Street.

  2. Targeted opening passes without a launch

    Milestone

    Niteglow's planned Chinatown opening date came and went as the ABC permitting process continued.

Scenarios

1

Niteglow's Chinatown taproom opens to the public

Likely Resolves by Jan 31, 2027

Discussed by: WhatNow Los Angeles; Niteglow Beer Company announcements

The type 23 license is active and the brewery says it is 'almost open', already brewing with California malt and Oregon hops. If remaining local approvals - occupancy, health, and construction sign-offs - move quickly, the taproom could begin service within months.

2

Further delays push the Chinatown opening past early 2027

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Independent brewery observers

The ABC license is only one step. Local occupancy, health, and construction approvals can take months, and the project's earlier slip from July 2025 shows timelines can stretch. Another setback would push the opening to mid-2027 or later.

3

Hollywood taproom opens as planned

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: WhatNow Los Angeles; Ovation Hollywood ownership

Ifergan has planned a second, beer-only Niteglow taproom at Ovation Hollywood for late 2026 or 2027. Success at the Chinatown venue and continued permitting would make the Hollywood opening likely.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2010 to 2020

Brooklyn Brewery's international contract-brewing push (2010s)

Brooklyn Brewery, the borough's best-known craft brand, entered markets in Japan, Europe, and Scandinavia through licensing deals with local brewers rather than building its own plants abroad.

Then

The model let Brooklyn sell in distant cities at low capital cost, but kept production under partner breweries' control.

Now

It became the standard playbook for East Coast craft breweries seeking national or global reach without a second brewery.

Why this matters now

Niteglow is also a Brooklyn brewery entering a far market, Los Angeles, but is doing the opposite: building its own taprooms and contract-brewing locally - a bigger commitment with more upside and risk.

2012 to 2017

Starbucks Evenings (2012-2017)

Starbucks began testing beer, wine, and small plates at select US stores in 2012, expanding evening alcohol service to several hundred locations. The goal was to turn coffee shops into evening gathering places.

Then

Starbucks quietly phased out the alcohol experiment by 2017; beer and wine never became a meaningful sales driver.

Now

The move became a reference point for coffee brands trying to add alcohol without changing the physical space or evening staffing.

Why this matters now

Niteglow's Dayglow-by-day, Niteglow-by-night plan at one address is the same dual-format bet, and faces the same question of whether customers come at both hours.

2013 to 2022

Modern Times Beer expansion and bankruptcy (2013-2022)

Modern Times Beer, a fast-growing independent San Diego craft brewer, opened multiple taprooms across California and Portland, adding a Santa Barbara brewery. It grew faster than sales could support.

Then

In 2022 the company filed for bankruptcy, and its brands and locations were sold to new owners.

Now

The collapse became a cautionary tale for independent breweries that expanded floor space before demand was steady.

Why this matters now

Niteglow is opening two Los Angeles taprooms while many independent craft breweries are consolidating; the parallel highlights how taproom expansion can outrun a small brewery's customer base.

Sources

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