Warrenville brewery buys Aurora's Roundhouse

It's one suburban microbrewery buying another as Two Brothers Brewing Company of Warrenville announced Tuesday its purchase of America's Historic Roundhouse in Aurora.

Roundhouse owner Scott Ascher said he already is working with Two Brothers co-founders Jason and Jim Ebel to ensure the 70,000 square-foot entertainment complex transitions smoothly from one operator to another.

The facility at 205 N. Broadway Ave. will continue to operate as America's Historic Roundhouse until a grand opening yet to be scheduled renames it as another location of Two Brothers Brewing, Ascher said. Two Brothers will maintain its current Warrenville microbrewery and Tap House restaurant at 30W315 Calumet Ave.

“This opportunity allows us to continue to expand our passion for beer, love of food and appreciation for great architecture,” Jason Ebel said in a news release.

Ascher said a court order and an agreement between Two Brothers and the Roundhouse's mortgage company are the last details to work our before the sale becomes official and final.

“(Two Brothers) couldn't be a better buyer,” Ascher said. “These are very talented people — it's an architect who's a brewer and a lawyer who's a brewer, I guess that's what it's going to take to make this successful.”

America's Historic Roundhouse filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February after falling behind on taxes owed to the city and other government entities and being involved in several legal battles since opening in 1996, including one with the family of Walter Payton, who was among the original investors who purchased the site.

Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner said in a news release he is satisfied with the Roundhouse's new ownership.

“We are delighted that Two Brothers Brewing Company is the new owner of the Roundhouse,” he said. “It is a beautiful, historic site and I believe Two Brothers Brewing Company will make history themselves as the owner and operator.”