Dean Rosenberger calls himself New World Brewery's "spiritual janitor," and a "manager of all things" when pressed for some seriousness. As a former employee at Tampa Bay Brewing Company's 15th Street location (where Cigar City Cider & Mead is today), Rosenberger, 46, first met New World owner Steve Bird just after the bar opened in April of 1995.
RUMOR CONTROL: NEW WORLD BREWERY STAYING PUT (FOR THE TIME BEING)
Consulting work for Bird turned into a " professional study of New World and later a full time position at New World." Rosenberger says he and Bird are very different people, but reach agreement about business decisions.
"He is the owner after all," Rosenberger told CL. "I think, however, that he trusts my judgement and the end results speak for themselves."
In CL's recent story about New World Brewery, we mention that the beloved 22-year-old Ybor City watering hole has been operating and improving itself at full clip despite being in a month-to-month lease (more on that here). A new PA has been installed recently along with new kitchen equipment. The woodwork is constantly being touched up or refurbished. A Sunday brunch is booming and a new menu is being developed.
"I always assumed that New World would be moving eventually," Rosenberger added. "It was a leased property."
He assures CL, regulars, and the staff that everything in the story is as much as he knows, too.
"As far as telling folks about moving, the staff will be told first," he said. "Steve doesn't strike me as a note on the door when you get to work kind of guy. I know I am certainly not either."
All he really wants to talk about, actually, is how the staff is working to make it better every day, adding that they aren't thinking about "the end"
"Definitely not planning to move anytime soon, but until then we plan on firing on all cylinders."
See more photos of New World and read details about their future, here.
This article appears in Nov 3-10, 2016.