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Wild Leap Brewery is a testament to collaboration and the powerful impact of community partnerships. Founded by Anthony Rodriguez and Robert Goldstein, Wild Leap is the result of visionary entrepreneurs and a community dedicated to strengthening its downtown district for all to enjoy. From its beginnings, Wild Leap has been embraced by LaGrange, a city where local businesses are celebrated for enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.

The founders’ journey with LaGrange began when they participated in a local beer festival, discovering a community that valued and actively supported its businesses. Seeing this, and with encouragement from the Downtown LaGrange Development Authority and The Callaway Foundation, they identified the perfect location for Wild Leap: the historic Westbrook & Service Tire Company building on Main Street. This building, along with the adjacent city park, Overlook Plaza, offered an ideal setting—a beautiful, historically significant venue that reflected LaGrange’s commitment to revitalizing its downtown core.

“Community Bank & Trust has always believed in supporting the growth of local businesses as a cornerstone of strong communities,” said Steve Jefferies, President of Community Bank & Trust. “We’re proud to partner with Wild Leap as they continue to thrive and expand. By supporting entrepreneurs like Anthony and Robert, we’re not only helping a business succeed but also contributing to a vibrant, growing downtown for LaGrange.”

Since opening, Wild Leap has garnered national recognition as a leader in craft brewing, including honors as USA Today’s *Best New Brewery*, *Brewery of the Year* from *Beer Connoisseur*, awards at the *San Francisco World Spirits Competition*, and multiple accolades from the *US Open Beer Championship* and *American Distiller Institute International Awards*. Wild Leap has also expanded beyond beer, now offering spirits, ready-to-drink cocktails, and wine, and recently opened a 15,000+ square foot taproom in Downtown Atlanta at Centennial Yards, near Mercedes Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena.

“From the beginning, LaGrange has been incredibly supportive of our vision, and working with Community Bank & Trust and local organizations has only strengthened our commitment to this city,” said Wild Leap co-founder Anthony Rodriguez. “This partnership has given us the confidence to grow and take on new ventures, knowing we have the community’s backing every step of the way.”

Community Bank & Trust’s support of Wild Leap and the Overlook Plaza concert series exemplifies their dedication to helping our downtown thrive,” said a representative from the Downtown LaGrange Development Authority. “Their commitment to local businesses is invaluable to our efforts to create a vibrant, inviting city center for residents and visitors alike.”

Over a year ago, Community Bank & Trust saw the potential for something more: a concert series at Overlook Plaza that would celebrate local musicians and draw more visitors downtown. Through collaboration with Wild Leap’s team, it quickly became clear that Wild Leap shared a vision for supporting local businesses and the economy. This shared commitment led to an ongoing conversation about how Community Bank & Trust could support Wild Leap’s continued success.

Community Bank & Trust, along with the Downtown LaGrange Development Authority and The Callaway Foundation, is thrilled to provide additional financing to help Wild Leap expand and flourish. As a locally owned and operated business, Wild Leap is a pillar in LaGrange’s growing downtown, and we are proud to support their mission to stay and grow in the community they call home.