The idea to create El Cerrito's first modern brew pub started over a few beers at Pyramid Brewery in Berkeley.

"It popped up one day," says David Goodstal, one of the brew masters at Pyramid. "We started chatting."

The conversation with Kayvan Sabeghi and Brian Kelly, both whom also worked at Pyramid, turned to brew pubs – not surprisingly. "We had a couple of drinks," Sabeghi continues. "We said, 'We should do this ourselves.' "

Less than a year later, Goodstal, Sabeghi and Kelly are starting construction on Elevation 66, a roughly 50-seat pub and restaurant they hope to open in February.

Elevation 66 will fill an empty storefront on a section of San Pablo Avenue that's one of the most promising little strips in town, seen as an upcoming entertainment district. The pub site is two doors down from the Cerrito Theater and next door to Nông Thôn, the recently opened Vietnamese restaurant.

"I'm ecstatic," says councilwoman Ann Cheng, who serves as liaison to the city's Economic Development Board. "A brew pub is just a great amenity for a community to have," she adds.

Also on that block is another cultural venue, Stand Up Comics, and as well as a small music school.

Around the corner on Fairmount Avenue can be found an increasingly rare species, a record shop — Mod Lang. And a few doors away is Ifshin Violins, a shop that repairs, sells, rents and otherwise celebrates fine violins and other stringed instruments."

The area, which is near the southern entry to town, has been the focus of city attention for years. Efforts included the city's $5-million restoration of the 1937 Art Deco-style Cerrito Theater, which re-opened in November 2006.

City leaders hoped the theater would be a catalyst for commercial development in the area, particularly for such community-building ventures as restaurants and galleries. For a time, the strategy seemed to be working – but there were ups and downs.

First Central Perk, a lively café filled with Davy Crockett, Pac-Man, Disney paraphernalia and more, occupied the corner site now run by Nông Thôn. When it died, 33 Revolutions café took its place, selling not only food but collectable jazz LPs and featuring live folk music. It too folded.

Meanwhile, the pub space was occupied by a dance studio followed by an art gallery, Eclectix, which shuttered its store in 2010 and became an online gallery. The theater itself briefly went dark before the current, second operator took charge.

For a brief period a year ago, it looked like the block had finally emerged as El Cerrito's long-sought entertainment district. On one balmy August Friday night in 2009, live bands were playing both at 33 Revolutions and Eclectix, with crowds filling the street beneath the neon glow of the Cerrito marquee. Soon both café and Eclectix were gone.

But with the coming of Nông Thôn and the promise of Elevation 66, neighbors are getting excited. The city too has been encouraging the brew masters.

On that block, says Dwayne Dalman, the city's senior economic development project manager, "we are looking for businesses that will have a good synergy with the theater to promote an entertainment district where people will have entertainment and dining choices. I think a brew pub has a good chance of being successful and meeting all of these goals."

He said the city has not provided any financial incentives at this point.

"It's our hope to develop the east side of the block of San Pablo Avenue between Central and Fairmount as an entertainment venue for El Cerrito that will help revitalize our community," Mayor Janet Abelson says. "So we're excited to see the Vietnamese restaurant go in, and now the possibility of a brew pub."

The city is seeking to attract varied restaurants on that strip, she says – perhaps even an outdoor tacqueria in a courtyard. "It would mean more of a night life."

Goodstal appreciates the city's support. "Instead of us having to fight to get something done," he says, "they've been on board from the beginning."

The partners chose El Cerrito for their venture, after considering both Berkeley and Oakland, because it's attracting younger families from Berkeley and San Francisco, and because "it needs a place like this to go enjoy a good beer and bite to eat," Kelly says.

"We saw the neighborhood start to develop, especially this block," he says.

"I see potential in El Cerrito," Sabeghi says.

The proximity to BART was a large plus, as was the Cerrito Theater. "That was huge for us," Sabeghi says. The partners also appreciate the city's sidewalk and landscaping improvements.

Earlier this week, after meeting with a plumber, the trio showed off their new space, which was designed by another partner, architect Esther Goodstal, David's wife. Along the north wall will be their wrap-around bar, the portion closest to the avenue low enough to accommodate people in wheelchairs. The bar is being constructed of recycled redwood.

Behind the bar will be the brewing system with its mash kettle and fermentation vessels. The aroma will appeal but not overwhelm, Kelly says, because the brewing will take place at night, and only one or two nights a week – at first. In the long run they hope to produce enough beer to sell to other establishments.

They promise an establishment that's local, sustainable and green. Besides six of their own beers, two of them seasonal, they plan to serve beers on tap from other local brewers. Also on tap will be wine. For food they plan burgers, nachos and other bar food, plus salads, short ribs, fish and more.

The 3,800-square-foot restaurant has 1,000 square feet upstairs that will house pool tables. Both floors will have TVs to attract sports fans.

They may punch windows into the second floor space to create views of the theater marquee and more. "On a really clear day you can see the Golden Gate," Kelly says.

David Goodstal, a veteran of the master brewers program at UC Davis, has eight years in the brewing business. Sabeghi, a Richmond boy who attended Albany High, spent two tours with the Army in Iraq and Afghanistan. Kelly, a graduate of San Francisco State, grew up all over the country, and spent time traveling while listening to music and snowboarding.

All are united by their love of beer.

"It's good for you," says Kelly.

"It's a passion," says Goodstal.

"There's an art form to it," says Sabeghi.

"For us," Kelly says, "it's more than just making money. We want a place where people gather."

"We're not corporate," Sabeghi says. "We're laid back."

Where did the name "Elevation 66" come from?

"It's because El Cerrito is 66 feet above sea level," Sabeghi says. "We thought it suits the area. It's local."