A Hernando County couple is transforming a former auto repair shop into a craft brewery.
Marker 48 Brewing is the brainchild of Tina and Maurice Ryman. The location, on Cortez Boulevard (Highway 50), used to be an auto repair shop before the couple came up with the idea to make it into the county's first and only full production craft brewery.
"We thought that our community would love it as much as we do," said Maurice.
Market 48 will offer up to 16 different varieties of beer at any given time, the owners say.
When the couple first walked in to the place, it was a mess.
"I don't think it had been cleaned or touched for 20 something years, so it was full of grease and transmission fluid and you name it," Tina said.
With vision, hard work and about 75 gallons of degreaser, the craft brewery is almost ready to open for business.
"We can really see that it is going to come to fruition really soon and be amazing," said Maurice.
The Rymans hope to open by the middle of October and at some point after that, they plan to start distributing their brew. The brewery features a 6,000 sq-ft facility, tasting room, and beer garden.