Faction Brewing Gets a Longer Lease, Owes $222K in Back Rent
The Alameda Point brewery fell behind during the pandemic and 2023's atmospheric rivers. The city's new deal stretches repayment out to 2031.
By The Alameda Pulse
Faction Brewing, the first brewery to open at Alameda Point, owes the city $222,036 in back rent. Instead of pushing the business out, the Alameda City Council is giving it a longer lease and years to pay it off.
How the brewery got behind
The debt built up in stages. The COVID-19 pandemic and the Shelter in Place orders that came with it hit Faction hard enough that the city set up a rent relief program back in October 2020. Then in 2023 and 2024, repeated atmospheric river storms and road closures for infrastructure work around Alameda Point cut into tasting room sales again.
Add it up and it comes to $46,719 in deferred rent from 2024, $164,000 in past due rent built up over the last two years, and $11,317 in late fees. That's the $222,036 total the brewery owes.
What the new lease deal does
The city introduced a third lease amendment on September 1 covering Faction's space at Building 22, Suite 200, 2501 Monarch Street. It:
- Extends the initial lease term by three years
- Swaps two 10 year renewal options for a single 2 year option
- Sets a monthly minimum repayment of $3,763 toward the back rent, due in full by April 30, 2031
City staff note Faction has paid full rent since February 2026. It's current on new bills, it's just working off five years' worth of old debt on the schedule above.
Why the city didn't just evict
City staff describe Faction as Alameda Point's first local brewery, known for drawing visitors to Spirit's Alley seven days a week. That's not a small thing for a corner of the city that's still filling in with new tenants and empty buildings. Losing an anchor business over a rent dispute would leave a real gap. It's not the only Alameda brewery having a moment this year, either. Alameda Brewing just won a national gold medal for its Burma Ale.
The amendment introduced on September 1 still needs a second vote before it's final, which is standard for changes to city property agreements. Until then, the taps at Building 22 are open daily like always. Check our events calendar for what's happening around Alameda Point this month.
