Greenwood Brewing’s 6th Anniversary: Designing Arizona's First 100% Women-Owned Brewery
The Greenwood Brewing patio in Roosevelt Row is an adaptive reuse project that serves as a neighborhood gathering place for the downtown Phoenix community.
When Megan Greenwood set out to open Arizona's first 100% women-owned brewery in the heart of Roosevelt Row, she had a clear vision: create a space that was designed with women in mind while being genuinely welcoming to everyone. A place where the community could gather, connect, and feel at home over a great beer.
She called us. And we loved every minute of it.
The Challenge: Authentic Without Being Obvious
The brief wasn't to create a "feminine" brewery — it was to create a great brewery that happened to feel comfortable and welcoming in a way that many taprooms don't. That's a design challenge we find genuinely exciting. It's not about pink walls or floral prints. It's about thoughtful material choices, lighting that flatters, seating that invites lingering, and an atmosphere that feels warm rather than loud.
What We Designed
The bar at Greenwood Brewing is ADA accessible, as it was important to us to design an inclusive space for all to gather.
Full scope: Full remodel, project observation, product procurement, and styling across the taproom, beer garden, and courtyard.
The grab-n-go area was a key element of the business plan for Meg and her team, so we made it prominent in the design.
The taproom called for an airy, mostly neutral palette — intentional restraint that lets the space breathe and the community fill it with energy. A few key decisions anchored the design:
Color: Megan's signature brand green appears in the barstools — a subtle, considered nod to the brand without overwhelming the space
Materials: Carrara marble backsplash, natural wood bartop and millwork — both add warmth and texture while keeping things elevated
Custom lighting: We designed large-scale custom arc pendant lights that sit above the bar, fabricated by local Phoenix artist Ruben Gonzales of 11th Monk3y — a detail that anchors the entire room and adds a sculptural quality you won't find anywhere else
Brass accents: Brass fixture details bring a layer of sophistication without feeling precious
Beadboard feature wall: A white beadboard wall adds texture and a nod to classic American tavern design, updated for a contemporary context
Custom signage: Thoughtful signage throughout the market area and taps ties the brand identity into the physical space seamlessly
We went monochromatic in this adobe clay color for the gender neutral restrooms.
The bathrooms got the same level of attention — beadboard walls, monochromatic palettes in warm and cool tones, and finishes that feel intentional rather than afterthought. (Yes, people notice.)
Greenwood Brewing is a small space, built to connect into an existing historic building, so we needed to maximize every square foot of this adaptive reuse project in downtown Phoenix.
The patio and beer garden extend the welcoming, community-first feel outdoors — ample seating, thoughtful flow, and a space that works as hard on a sunny Phoenix afternoon as it does on a Friday night.
The Result
This bar window is the best people watching spot in Phoenix.
Greenwood Brewing is now a staple of the Roosevelt Row neighborhood. The design draws in passersby, invites people to stay longer than they planned, and tells Megan's story without her having to say a word. It's the kind of project that reminds us why commercial design matters — a well-designed space doesn't just look good, it builds community.
Photography: Roehner + Ryan
The single story facade of Greenwood Brewing’s tap room and brewery creates an inviting place for the Roosevelt Row neighborhood to gather.
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