Brewery, taproom taking root in former JoCo Macy’s amid neighborhood transformation

An Iowa-based brewer — lauded for igniting economic growth and vibrancy in the communities where it plants its taprooms — announced plans Monday to expand its Big Grove brand into Prairie Village, projecting a fall 2026 opening within a long-dormant retail space in Johnson County.

Dirt already is moving outside the former Macy’s department store at West 71st Street and Mission Road, closed for more than a decade as shopping trends shifted; it’s the site where Big Grove held a “wall breaking” ceremony earlier this year — a symbolic first step in the renewal to come, said Matt Swift, CEO and co-founder of Big Grove.

“We toured multiple locations in the area, and Prairie Village immediately made us feel like we were at home in a more neighborhood setting, part of the community,” he said, noting the company began distributing its beers in the local market in March. “The site itself at The Shops of Prairie Village is undergoing a transformation and we’re looking forward to being a catalyst of that change.”

Rendering of the future Big Grove Brewery at West 71st Street and Mission Road in Prairie Village; image courtesy of Big Grove Brewery

Rendering of the future Big Grove Brewery at West 71st Street and Mission Road in Prairie Village; image courtesy of Big Grove Brewery

Big Grove’s expansion also is expected to see a new location open later this month in a repurposed steel mill in Omaha, Nebraska. The brand already operates locally-inspired taprooms in Solon, Iowa City, Des Moines, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa — where the brewery is said to have breathed new life into its neighborhoods.

Construction work at The Shops of Prairie Village at the future site of Big Grove Brewery; courtesy photo

“Big Grove Brewery’s commitment to community and their unique vision make them a perfect addition to The Shops of Prairie Village,” said Emily Gagliardi, senior vice president, head of leasing, east and central at First Washington Realty. “As a gathering place for the neighborhood, The Shops of Prairie Village is built on experiences that bring people together, and Big Grove will add an exciting new chapter to that story and help ensure the center remains vibrant for years to come.” 

The brewery also operates a dedicated nonprofit, Big Grove for Good, which supports hundreds of local events each year, partnering with nonprofit organizations, neighborhoods, and grassroots initiatives, the company said.

Earlier this year, Big Grove introduced The Neighborhood Beer — a first-of-its-kind program in the beer industry designed to fund small-scale, high-impact community projects. For every case of Neighborhood Beer sold, $1 goes directly to Big Grove for Good to support micro-grants across the brewery’s taproom and distribution regions. 

Because Big Grove already distributes beer locally, the Prairie Village community is eligible for these micro-grants as well as Big Grove’s annual community grant program.

Click here to learn more about Big Grove for Good.

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