What's the status of the Coke plant? When will Skipping Rock open? What's the latest on The Steam Plant?

STAUNTON — The news this week that John Schoeb and his Crozet brewery Pro Re Nata has purchased the assets of Skipping Rock Brewery on the outskirts of Staunton created some questions, not only about this purchase, but about Schoeb's other business ventures in the Staunton area.

Last fall Schoeb bought the former Coca-Cola Bottling Plant on North Augusta Street. He is also involved with Chip Clarke and The Steam Plant on Richmond Avenue. Add in Skipping Rock and that's three Staunton area businesses in which the former Albemarle County dentist is involved.

Schoeb encouraged community members with questions to reach out to him through the Facebook page "709 North Augusta St and 420 Richmond Ave" where he also updates information on his venues.

"We answer people's question and we let them know what's happening," Schoeb said.

So what is happening? Here's what we know about all three.

Does this news change plans for the Coke plant?

It changes it quite a bit actually. First, it shifts the timeline for opening. Schoeb said the Coke plant will now open about a year later than first expected. He lost about eight months while trying to acquire Skipping Rock. And he will lose about another three months as he prepares to open Skipping Rock to the public.

Schoeb said the first major work the public will see is the removal of the roof on the old Coke plant. He expects that to start happening by the end of the year or beginning of next year. It will take about a year's construction from the time things get started, so, realistically, it won't open to the public until 2026.

"Coke has been my baby for the last six years. I've been trying to buy that building," Schoeb said. "It's not going anywhere. It's just going to morph a little bit."

By morph, he means that it will no longer be a brewery. Schoeb had originally planned to brew beer at the old Coke facility and ship it to his other venues. Now, he will shift all brewing to Skipping Rock.

Early in the process of rezoning for the Coke plant, Schoeb said he might add a restaurant, but it would be "years down the road." Now, with the changes, it may be a restaurant much, much sooner.

"I think it's going to have to be now," Schoeb said when asked if he was planning to open a restaurant in that location.

In addition to being a restaurant, it will also be a bar and event space, with plans to bring music acts to the facility. Schoeb even mentioned the possibility of simulated golf, although that's not finalized.

"We don't need that brewing space anymore," he said. "Simulated golf is just an idea, but I think that could be a super cool thing that happens there."

He also plans to use the facility for storage.

Lack of parking was an issue some in the community had when the Coke plant went before city officials for approval. Schoeb said he has purchased one lot nearby, but he can't say exactly where yet.

"We are in talks with a couple of other people as well that could potentially help us a lot with the parking," Schoeb said.

When will Skipping Rock reopen to the public?

First, it will no longer be called Skipping Rock. Schoeb purchased the assets, but not the brand. The facility at 414 Parkersburg Turnpike just outside of Staunton in Augusta County will now be called Pro Re Nata Plus. The Plus is for liquor that will be served in addition to beer.

Work began on the building Wednesday, with painting and "minor changes," per Schoeb. All of the licenses have also been submitted.

"We'd love to be open July 1, August 1, something like that," Schoeb said.

He said the brewery, which closed in early 2023, doesn't require too much work to reopen.

"It's basically go in, turn everything back on, clean everything and it's ready to go," Schoeb said. "But it needs paint, it needs to be cleaned up."

Pro Re Nata in Crozet will no longer brew beer. All that will happen in Augusta County at Pro Re Nata Plus.

There will be music at the former Skipping Rock, but Schoeb plans for it to be acoustic.

"That place is in the middle of a neighborhood," he said. "I can't go in there with a band that plays at Pro Re Nata in Crozet and blow the neighborhood up. That just wouldn't go over well. And I get that. I want to be a good neighbor."

What's happening with The Steam Plant?

Chip Clarke's latest venture is The Steam Plant, located at 420 Richmond Ave. near the intersection with Greenville Avenue. Clarke purchased that property, which used to be the steam plant that powered Western State Hospital and the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind, in 2017.

He told The News Leader last August that he'd like to break ground on it in 2023. That timeline has shifted also, per Schoeb who is working with Clarke on the project.

Schoeb said that they now hope to break ground on it this coming August and he expects a 12- to 14-month turnaround in having it ready to open to the public. It should be open sometime in 2025.

It will be a music venue space that serves beer brewed by Schoeb. Last August, Clarke said food would also be available from a temporary location with possible plans to add a restaurant in the future.

So, for those keeping track, per Schoeb, that's Pro Re Nata Plus (FKA Skipping Rock) opening in 2024, The Steam Plant opening in 2025 and the former Coca-Cola Bottling Plant opening in 2026.

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— Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education reporter. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Coca-Cola Bottling Plant; Skipping Rock; The Steam Plant: What we know