Listen to this articleThe Park in Berkeley Heights is getting ready to debut its latest addition, announcing the leader of the forthcoming Emberside Brewery.
Preparing to launch amid The Connell Co.’s future-facing reimagining of the 185-acre campus, the retail component anticipates it will start servings suds in November 2026.
On Dec. 2, The Park announced Tom Nielsen as director of brewery operations. Nielsen brings more than two decades’ experience to the post, will lead operations and shape the debut lineup of beers.
Coming soon
Also due at The District at the Park:
- Rosa Azul Mexican restaurant serving authentic cuisine and hand-crafted cocktails, in a casual taqueria with window, outdoor garden and playground area
- BASH speakeasy-style spot with a wood-fired steakhouse, event spaces, multiple bars and duckpin bowling lanes
Emberside will offer a hub within The District at the Park. Set on 60 acres, the new downtown destination will offer shopping, dining and entertainment with a walkable main street. Rounding out the mix, a rising residential component will add 328 luxury apartments and additional retail concepts, complementing the existing 176-key Embassy Suites.
The Connell Co. entity Table & Banter Hospitality owns and operates Emberside Brewery. The growing family of restaurants also oversees culinary and hospitality services across The Park’s restaurants, hotels, offices, residential spaces, fitness center and event companies.
A New Jersey native, Nielsen started out at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in California. The Park said he had a hand in helping craft some of the brand’s most beloved brews, such as Torpedo Ale, Hop Hunter IPA and Hazy Little Thing. The announcement described him as a leader in hop and barely innovation.
Want a taste?
Emberside is planning a series of events ahead of its launch. First up: a tap takeover at Grain & Cane Jan. 21, 2026, where Tom Nielsen, director of brewery operations, will lead guests through a guided tasting of the brews.
At Emberside, that background will go toward building a rotating lineup of IPAs, classic lagers and experimental small-batch releases tailored to local tastes. Nielsen will also collaborate with local suppliers and partners on the ground-up operation. Describing it as a dream of his, Neilsen said, “I could not think of a more exciting project to bring that … to life.”
The Connell Co. Senior Vice President Hospitality and Marketing Stephen Kilroy said Nielsen’s “expertise and passion for innovation make him the perfect person to bring Emberside’s vision to life.”
“From the rooftop and cozy fire pits to the indoor/outdoor garden seating, every detail is designed to bring people together over exceptional craft beer,” added The Connell Co. Executive Vice President Shane Connell.
