Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Ridenhour.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Anthony. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I moved to San Diego with my wife a little over fifteen years ago. I was working as an artist’s assistant in Scottsdale, AZ and had recently just finished a two year rock tour as a drummer in an indie band from Phoenix, Az. It just so happened the band was sponsored by one of the first microbreweries in Tempe, AZ. It was my time playing with them from 2001-2004 where I grew to love craft beer.
Once my wife and I decided to settle in San Diego, I needed to find work in the area and I knew that after living the life of a touring musician corporate work would not be a good fit for me. I ended up looking for work close to the neighborhood that we lived in which happened to be within cycling distance to Balboa Park.
I ended up with an entry level position at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum. Throughout my tenure at the SDMRM, I discovered my passion for arts and culture leadership. This ultimately ended up with me becoming the Executive Director of the Model Railroad Museum in Balboa Park. I have led the SDMRM in this position since 2012, growing the organization over the last seven years from a $350k Annual budget to just over $1M at present.
All of this experience has led to our newest venture, the Museum of Beer, co-founded with my wife Molly Terbovich-Ridenhour, and two long-time friends Mike and Christine Kociela. The idea for the Museum of Beer was born two and a half years ago on a brief trip up to Los Angeles to visit a very popular immersive experience pop-up museum. I walked out of that experience and said to our group “we should do this, but with beer”. Within a little over a month, we were incorporated and began meeting with the brewing community to engage them with the idea. During this time we met Bruce Glassman, a very well respected member of the craft beer community. He is known for writing the San Diego Beer Guide, as well as writing for San Diego Magazine, the San Diego Tourism Authority, and West Coaster Magazine. We knew we had to have Bruce as part of the team, so we brought him on board. With Bruce we rounded out the perfect team to deliver the Museum of Beer: Myself and my wife Molly Terbovich-Ridenhour with 15 years of Museum Arts and Culture Experience; Mike Kociela (who co-founded the National Blues Museum in St. Louis,) Mo, with his wife Christine Kociela that own Westward Entertainment a large-scale event production company, and Bruce Glassman the Museum’s Curator of Craft. This is a team with the right experience and dedication to bring America’s first immersive craft beer museum to fruition. I am beyond honored to lead such amazingly talented people.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
As with any growth, there are usually challenges along the way. In building the Museum of Beer we have taken a slow and steady approach. The craft beer community is very tight and it took a while for us to meet everyone and gain the trust of the community. I can understand the community wanting to get to know our team before gaining their support. Even though it took a while, everyone we have met and become friends within the craft beer community has shown amazing support for what we’re doing. It is an incredibly collaborative and passionate community that our team is so stoked to be a part of.
Please tell us about your business.
The Museum of Beer (MoB) is going to provide visitors with the first—and only—fully immersive, entertaining, hands-on, educational craft beer experience in America. Museum of Beer will be an entertainment-driven, educational facility that immerses visitors in the history, processes, and community that make up San Diego’s craft beer culture. Highlights will include a nano brewing system, hands-on discovery with technology-infused exhibits, interactive creation stations, a beer-themed art gallery, and a wide variety of beer tasting options. For relaxation or continued discovery, visitors can try special food-and-beer pairings in the MoB Tasting Room, select from a list of 65+ exclusively San Diego draft beers, pick a rare or limited-release bottle from MoB’s unique and extensive bottle list, or lounge on an outdoor patio with live music. Museum of Beer will have something for everyone to enjoy, whether they’re a casual beer lover or a serious craft beer aficionado.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
It’s hard to say. I usually look back and reflect that every decision made and the opportunity taken has led to the place I’m at today. If I had to choose one thing I would have done differently, it would have been to move to San Diego sooner.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.museumofbeer.com
- Phone: 6197882885
- Email: info@museumofbeer.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/museumofbeer
- Facebook: facebook.com/museumofsdbeer
- Twitter: @museumofbeer
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