Exploring Life & Business with Erika and Todd Button of Button Brew House

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika and Todd Button.

Button Brew House was founded and is currently owned and operated by a husband and wife team – Erika and Todd Button. Erika had bought Todd a home-brew kit and that’s when he “caught the bug”. When Todd’s job moved to Pennsylvania, he was ready for a change after nearly 20 years in the printing industry. Todd submerged himself in the craft beer industry. First earning the Business for Craft Beverages Certificate from Portland State University, then the Intensive Brewing Science and Engineering Diploma from the American Brewers Guild. Next was gaining experience in the hospitality industry, he worked as a server at The Canyon’s Crown Restaurant & Pub and a bartender at the Arizona Beer House and the Tucson Hop Shop. Erika continued her freelancing as a graphic designer. The couple spent a few years raising capital with their life savings, an SBA loan, family/friends, and personal credit. In the Fall of 2016, they signed a lease for their space and started the build-out in March 2017. Then finally, in August 2017, the first batch of beer was produced at Button Brew House and then they opened to the public in September 2017.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Each step along the way has been a challenge. Raising a tremendous amount of money when banks would not consider giving you a small business loan for a brewery was difficult. Many banks have the impression that a brewery is just a bar, not knowing we are a producer, self-distributor, and retailer. We are fortunate that the Business Development Finance Corporation was able to assist. Build out was a struggle because many contractors in Southern Tucson are inexperienced in what the needs of a brewery are. So meeting the requirements of the Town of Marana, the Fire Department, and Pima County Health Department while meeting the needs to produce a consistent product had its challenges as well. Once open, the Ina Road exit, one mile from Button Brew House, was closed because of construction and was not completed until two years in Summer 2019 after BBH was opened. This made it difficult for patrons to know where BBH was located, plus it was another adjustment once the exit was open for patrons to know the easiest way to get to BBH. At BBH, the Fall and Winter 2019, and Spring 2020 were lucrative and increasing traction. Then the pandemic closed down the taproom in March 2020. Constantly adapting to this ever-changing COVID-landscape has made it possible to survive and thrive.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Button Brew House is a Microbrewery located in Tucson, AZ creating community life that connects people, stories, and all experiences through its values and passions. Button Brew House provides a warm and inviting atmosphere like no other, where people seeking authentic craft experiences can get together to enjoy great company and an eclectic array of world-class craft beverages while helping to build better communities through innovation, tradition, and sustainability.

Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Entrepreneurs are often viewed as risk-takers by everyone except for other entrepreneurs. The fact is, those of us that take these so-called “risks” don’t see them as risks at all. We spend so much time researching, developing, and preparing to know exactly what we are getting into. But most of all we believe in ourselves and we believe that we are creating a superior product. So much so that we know in our hearts that we are doing the right thing.

Todd started at the bottom of the printing industry right out of high school in Phoenix. He later started a Fine Art Reproduction Studio in Cambria, CA. He was offered a job opportunity with a printing company in Tucson to expand the pre-press department and create an in-house photo studio. Ending his printing career after nearly 20 years at the top of his field, he was ready to change careers. He and Erika were all in to raise $750k to build a brewery from the ground up.

Erika earned her Bachelor of Arts from San Francisco State University and met Todd at her first job after college. After six years as a graphic designer working for other people, she decided to go out on her own as a freelance graphic designer pursuing her clients, managing her schedule, and working from home. Some may say that starting a brewery or any business is risk-taking but to Todd and Erika, it just seemed to make the most sense.

Contact Info:

• Email: drink@buttonbrew.com
• Website: www.button.beer
• Instagram: @buttonbrewhouse
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buttonbrewhouse/
• Twitter: @ButtonBrewHouse
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU1bo1UF9GitempyROSW1Ow
• TikTok: @buttonbrewhouse

Image Credits
Randy Metcalf