Old 99 Brewing merges with Loggers Pizza; expands into multiple Oregon locations

Roseburg, Oregon’s Old 99 Brewing (not to be confused with Bend, OR’s Bridge 99 Brewing) has merged with their local pizzeria pubs Loggers Pizza to form a new company that will soon have three different beer outlets in Douglas County. South of Eugene and on the I-5 highway corridor towards Medford, both Old 99 and Logger’s Pizza have carved out their own slices of the market that they have found to complement each other. The merger completed on January 1, 2022 gives both brands new locations to showcase their products as well as expansion opportunities in both hospitality and production. It’s no surprise to learn that pizza and beer really do go well together.

More from a press release:

Loggers Pizza was founded in 2009 in a 1,200 sq ft, mostly take-n-bake store. It brought back the pinwheels and sourdough pizza that the people of Roseburg cherished when Chief Cheezers was open. Loggers started slowly for the first two years and then had a major bump in sales when it created Douglas County’s first beer growler fill station. It wasn’t long before the community started asking for a larger venue for parties. That’s when Loggers opened its 6,600 sq ft, full-service restaurant and bar in 2013.

At almost the same exact time, one day apart actually, Old 99 Brewing Company opened its doors. It started out as three friends brewing beer together. Each of them was super passionate about brewing the best beer possible and sharing it with their friends and community. Old 99 hired a full-time brewmaster where it perfected some of Roseburg’s favorite beers like For the Win IPA, Pause Button Pilsner, and of course, Billy Bad Ass IIPA.

Over the last nine years both companies have been building their brands and honing their crafts. Loggers won awards for its pizza and sports bar, while Old 99 did the same with its beer. Old 99 beers became top sellers for Loggers. Loggers opened a new location in Winston which has been open for five months now and secured another piece of property by the Winchester dam to build a gastropub and food park. Construction should start in the next couple months.

COVID shook a lot of things up for most businesses over the last two years but those in the hospitality industry like restaurants and breweries were hit especially hard. That coupled with the fact that building capacity in the brewery business is very expensive caused the two companies to look into building on each other’s strengths. “I’ve always loved Old 99’s brand”, Sam Gross, owner of Loggers said, “The potential of expansion along Old Highway 99 and I-5 where peoples could get our pizza and their beer seems like a match made in heaven.” Matt Hill, owner of Old 99, said, “We are two complimentary companies producing great products, and we have matching visions for the future; it makes great sense to team up and create a cohesive unit.” Two of the original three owners, as well as the brewmaster, are staying on in the new company ensuring that the community will always be able to enjoy the top-quality craft beers they’ve come to expect from Old 99.

Now that the two companies have officially merged, there are several exciting expansion activities in the works. The Winston Loggers, located at 1 NE Main Street in Winston, is also an official tasting room of Old 99. The brewery on Hooker Road will have a permanent food cart in the next two months and the brewery will have extended hours. The gastropub and food park being built at the dam will have a huge bar and between six and ten dining options. Old 99 is developing plans for a larger brewing facility. In the meantime, expect new exciting beers to be on tap at the brewery, Loggers and other restaurants and bars, as well as in six packs at our community grocery stores.

A management team has been formed that will oversee the health of the merger, the future of the business, and oversee day-to-day operations. Bob Forester and Leanne Reynolds are leading the management team that includes store managers Tif Murray and Phil Kailiuli, and assistant manager, Christina Magdalena. The primary focus begins with stability and moves toward growth. Bob and Leanne have an extensive background in business management, business development, operations, risk/safety, and human resources. Sam Gross said, “We have waited a long time to be able to be in a position to put this type of team together. Myself and our partners are looking forward to our future!”