Punch Buggy Brewing Ready to Open Spring City Taproom

After months of anticipation, Punch Buggy Brewing Company is finally ready to open its doors in Spring City.

The brewery's new taproom at 77 N. Main Street will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, June 13, bringing craft beer, local food, and a new gathering space to the former Mowrey-Latshaw Hardware Store building.

For co-owner Patrick Coyne, the opening represents a personal investment in the community his family now calls home.

"Things are building," Coyne said, pointing to the growing number of businesses finding their way to Spring City. "Hopefully we can be part of that and help grow what started already."

Built by Locals

Punch Buggy Brewing was founded in Philadelphia's Olde Kensington neighborhood, where the company operates its original taproom and brewery. Today, the business is primarily run by Coyne alongside co-owners Rob Clark and John Riley.

The brewery's name traces back to Coyne's first car — a 1971 Volkswagen Super Beetle that had been passed down through his family. Driving the clunky, bright-orange Beetle around Kutztown University, Coyne quickly became recognizable.

“It was old and loud and sounded like a jet engine,” Coyne said with a laugh. "Everybody knew when I was coming."

His college friends often joked that if he ever opened a brewery, he should call it Punch Buggy.

About five years ago, Coyne and his wife, Jennifer Topper, moved to Spring City after previously living in Phoenixville. Now, the couple is raising two young children while operating neighboring Main Street businesses. Topper owns Wild Blooms, the flower shop located immediately next door to the Punch Buggy taproom.

"The school system's great," Coyne said of the Spring-Ford area. "Raising a family here was kind of a no-brainer."

After settling in Spring City, Topper said her husband — who she describes as "the optimistic one in the relationship" — encouraged her to take a chance on opening a floral business in one of Main Street's vacant storefronts.

She recalled how positive the community response was. During her first month in business, residents would stop in simply to thank her for being there. Coyne took notice and began envisioning a space of his own.

"He saw how excited people were about this place," Topper said. "I think the excitement was kind of contagious."

What Customers Can Expect

The new taproom will initially be open four days a week, with hours expected to be 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Customers can expect a casual, neighborhood-focused atmosphere featuring TVs for sports games, communal seating, beer flights, rotating taps, and events designed to bring people together. The walls will be decorated with paintings by Philadelphia artist Nate Walker.

The brewery plans to launch with 10 taps. In addition to a rotating variety of Punch Buggy beers, the taproom will offer a house-made seltzer, wine, cider, Stateside canned cocktails, and mixed-drink options. Non-alcoholic beverages will also be available.

Coyne said one advantage of operating a second taproom is the ability to experiment with new recipes and specialty beers.

"We'll be able to test more beers and get more creative," he said.

Beer will be available to-go, and Coyne plans to keep the Spring City Lager — which Punch Buggy debuted last year — stocked regularly. He's also hoping to debut a borough-themed IPA later this year.

Future plans include live acoustic music, Quizzo nights, bingo, artist showcases, and community events. Topper may also utilize the space for floral workshops.

Deezy's Joins the Project

Food operations inside the taproom will be handled by Deezy's Famous Cheesesteaks, owned by local entrepreneur Dale Sizer.

The partnership came together when Sizer reached out to Coyne shortly after Punch Buggy announced plans for the Spring City location.

Coyne said he was already a fan, frequenting the Deezy's food truck when it was parked on Bridge Street in Spring City.

"For my 40th birthday, we got like 50 cheesesteaks off them," Coyne recalled.

For Sizer, the partnership is about more than food. A Spring City resident for more than two decades, Sizer said he's watched the borough evolve and believes the downtown is entering a new chapter.

"What keeps me invested is the people and the potential," Sizer said. "I believe this town is on the verge of something special."

He sees the partnership with Punch Buggy as an opportunity to help establish a Main Street where people can gather, spend time downtown, and support local businesses.

"The goal is to help make Spring City a destination," Sizer said. "We want people from surrounding towns to say, 'Let's go spend the evening in Spring City.'"

Deezy's has become a familiar name throughout the area and also operates the food program at Artillery Brewing in Pottstown.

The arrangement gives both businesses an opportunity to grow while creating a new one-stop destination for food and drinks in the Spring-Ford community. In addition to his signature cheesesteaks, Sizer said he plans to offer smash burgers, wings, loaded fries, and rotating specials.

Preserving a Piece of History

Rather than completely reinvent the former hardware store, Coyne chose to preserve elements of the building's history.

Original storage bins once used to hold nails, screws, and hardware have been incorporated into the brewery's merchandise and game area. He also preserved markings connected to a historic delivery made by Mowrey-Latshaw to the former Spring City High School.

According to Coyne, much of the renovation work was completed himself with support from the building's landlords.

"We didn't want to take too many loans out," he said. "We wanted to build off what money we had and do a lot of the work ourselves."

Bar tops were provided by Bimber's Timbers, a local business Coyne connected with through the Royersford Farmers Market.

The result is a space that blends the building's historic character with Punch Buggy's quirky, modern aesthetic.

Another Step Forward for Main Street

The opening comes during a period of significant change for Spring City's business district.

In recent years, Main Street has welcomed a growing mix of businesses, including The Gem Music Hall, Alisan Road Mercantile, and Neighbors Barbershop. Tuned Up Brewing Company, which closed last year but recently reopened under new ownership, is just a short walk from Punch Buggy.

Coyne hopes the new taproom can complement those businesses rather than compete with them, giving Spring City visitors an opportunity to explore everything the borough has to offer.

Spring City Mayor Adam Alberico said Punch Buggy represents another important addition to the borough's downtown.

"It's going to be great," Alberico said. "A lot of buzz about it. I think it's going to take off."

For Alberico, the opening reflects broader revitalization efforts taking place throughout Spring City, driven by residents, property owners, and entrepreneurs willing to invest in the community.

"You can just feel there's a little something going on down here," Alberico said. "We're taking pride down here now. It seems like there's a rebirth."

Alberico also said he plans to work with nearby property owners and borough officials to create additional parking opportunities for patrons of Punch Buggy and other Main Street businesses.

For residents who have watched the new taproom take shape behind the storefront windows for months, opening day finally arrives on Saturday, June 13.

Topper believes the excitement surrounding Punch Buggy and other new ventures on Main Street speaks to a community eager to support local businesses.

"We wouldn't be able to do it if people weren't so excited about it," she said.