Today we’d like to introduce you to Craig Bradley.
Craig, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Born and raised in Austin, TX, I attended Texas Tech University where I graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and big dreams of making it in the ad world. But 2001 had different plans for me, and a recession didn’t seem to help things. I decided to start my own business doing freelance graphic design, murals, and faux finishing while waiting tables on the side to get by. It was difficult to swallow my pride like that, but I think in the grand scheme of things, it made me appreciate the hard work it takes to follow your dreams.
By 2005, I got my first break in the ad world and moved to Dallas where I got a job with the highly-esteemed DDB Dallas, working in the studio. There I met an amazingly talented copywriter named Veronica, and we became fast friends. Little did I know at the time that she would eventually become my wife. Shortly thereafter, DDB merged with TracyLocke and I quickly moved from the studio up to an associate creative director where I worked on accounts ranging from 7-Eleven, Texas Lottery, and Tabasco. Veronica and I got married in 2010, and things were right on pace – first the house, then kids, etc. Well, life had different plans for us.
I had always been a huge fan of beer. Ever since I had my first non-light, “real” beer (Guinness) in college, I was obsessed with the many different variations of beer, tracking down every Belgian, German, or English variety I could get my hands on. I was fascinated with the idea of actually brewing my own beer, but never really entertained the idea of actually doing it. Thanks to my lovely wife, that was about to change. In early 2011, she got me a home brewing kit. Having no idea what I was doing, I quickly remembered a fella from work who would occasionally hand out his homebrews to folks around the office willing to try them. Well, that fella happened to be Wim Bens, another creative director who was planning on opening his OWN craft brewery right here in North Texas. That brewery would become Lakewood Brewing Company.
Not many people have the pleasure of watching a business grow from just an idea in a garage to a hugely successful company, but I’m proud to say not only did I witness it, but I had a hand in creating it. By early 2012, I was in a rut in advertising and decided to leave the ad game behind and help Wim bring Lakewood to life. I was brought on as employee #1 to help develop the marketing and events for the brewery, having created many of the iconic labels and graphics. In those early days, we pretty much did everything on our own, and we worked ourselves tirelessly to make it happen. Six years (and two kids) later, Veronica and I decided it was time to venture out on our own and create something new, and for our community in Lake Highlands. With my background in graphic design and marketing, and an unknown path set out before us, we decided to call it Vector Brewing. We’re now in the final stretch of construction and are hoping to be open in early 2020.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
We like to say, “stay patient and trust the journey.” That couldn’t be more true. There have been multiple struggles along the way, including delays and a government shutdown in early 2019. We were on pace to have our SBA loan approved and finalized when the shutdown occurred, and it basically set us back roughly three months. We were very demoralized, but with the support of our family, friends, and the amazing community around us, we got through it. It was incredible to see not only craft beer fans support us but total strangers whom we had never met hear our story and believe in us.
That was more instrumental in our continued efforts than most people probably know. However, above all else, my wife Veronica has been my biggest support through all of this. She’s my rock, and there is no Vector Brewing without her. As if being a rockstar mom and incredible copywriter wasn’t enough, she’s a life coach AND entrepreneur as well. I’m lucky to have her in my corner as we start this venture.
Vector Brewing – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Vector Brewing is a community brewpub. We’ll be crafting our own beers on-site, as well as serving a variety of artisanal pizzas, salads, and share plates from our scratch kitchen. With our 7 barrel, 2 vessel brewhouse, we’ll have the ability to always experiment and try new styles, consistently keeping things fresh with new beers being brewed all the time. From crisp lagers to juicy IPAs, we’ll have a variety of house-brewed beers to enjoy. But what will really set us apart is our focus on mixed culture fermentation and blending, with two dedicated wood and barrel-aging rooms.
Our kitchen will be creating an array of delicious, stone-deck fired pizzas, as well as seasonal salads and share plates including cheese and charcuterie boards. A variety of wines will be available by the glass, as well as a selection of cider, kombucha, and cold-brew coffee. And we’ll offer beer “cocktails” on the weekends including beermosas and micheladas.
And no great brewpub is complete without a great space to enjoy your beer, and we’ll have plenty of that with our 2300+ sq. ft. outdoor beer garden/patio. We’re creating an enclosed space on the patio for families to bring their children so they can relax and enjoy a beer while their kids play. We like to say we won’t be family tolerant, we’ll truly be family-friendly. But no need to worry if you don’t have kids – we’ll be implementing an evening curfew for young children so us adults can have a little “me time.”
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Currently, we just have our sights set on getting up-and-running and being as successful as we can be. We would love to eventually begin packaging some of our beer for sale at our location, but we don’t have any plans for distribution all over DFW. Our beer may pop up on occasion around town, but for the most part, the only place you’ll be able to get our beer is right here in Lake Highlands. We want to showcase the amazing neighborhood (and neighbors) we have, and make Lake Highlands a destination for foodies and beer fans alike. Seeing repeat customers and regulars will truly be a sign that we’re doing something right.
Contact Info:
- Address: 9850 Walnut Hill Ln, Suite 405
Dallas, TX 75238 - Website: www.vectorbrewing.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/vectorbrewing
- Facebook: facebook.com/vectorbrewingtx
- Twitter: twitter.com/vectorbrewing
Image Credit:
Veronica Bradley
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