SPRINGFIELD — Crowds — about 100 people on some nights — are coming out for White Lion Brewing’s Pridelands on Main Street.
“We’re glad that people are accepting and enthusiastic,” said Raymond Berry, president of White Lion Brewing Co.
White Lion Brewing opened outdoor beer garden Pridelands in early July in Tower Square Park on Main and Bridge streets just outside Tower Square, where White Lion is located.
A graffiti artist known as “Self” paints the inside of the containers of Tower Square. Self has been working as an artist for 9 years and is from Springfield. July 29, 2025. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
“That’s just month one,” Berry said. “The word goes out. They act as your ambassadors.”
The idea he said, is to encourage people to either visit downtown or to linger after their workday and possibly visit other restaurants or bars.
Berry, Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Common Wealth Murals unveiled Wednesday new paintings within two of the three shipping containers that make up Pridelands.
“We love partnering with White Lion,” said Britt Ruhe, executive director of Common Wealth Murals. “They are a great community-oriented business downtown.”
Artists finished their work on the two 20-foot containers Tuesday night, she said.
One of the newly decorated shipping containers has a musical theme and can be used as the “music corner,” Berry said. The other container is a lounge with a Springfield scenery theme.
A third trailer 40 feet long, built by a Texas company called Rox Box, is fitted out to serve beer and food.
A graffiti artist known as “Self” paints the inside of the containers of Tower Square. Self has been working as an artist for 9 years and is from Springfield. July 29, 2025. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
White Lion Brewing will operate from 4:30 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays through the end of October. Berry said White Lion is likely to schedule a few other events as well.
White Lion created the outdoor dining space in the privately owned Tower Square Park with the help of a $250,000 grant from the city funded by the American Rescue Plan Act back in 2023.
Manufacturing and setup delays slowed opening.
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