When the Harmon Brewery opened its doors in 1997 during the nascent re-imagining of Tacoma's downtown district, it looked pretty lonely on Pacific Avenue.  Fast forward a decade, and the Harmon has not only survived, but thrived.  With the addition of Harmon spin-off The Hub in the Stadium District, the demand for the brewery's handcrafted beers became too great.

"We had more business than we could handle," says 11-year Harmon veteran Bob Casey.

Not a bad problem to have.

Enter, the Tap Room.  Opened two years ago this June, the Tap Room, with its backroom brewery, was initially an answer to the overwhelming demand for Harmon beer, but struggled with its identity as a business. For one thing, the location proved to be a challenge. With the Tap Room located directly under The Hub, the Harmon siblings found themselves competing with one another. 

It soon became clear that the Tap Room needed to offer something that neither of the other Harmon locations could: it was soon decided that music of all genres in a 21-and-over setting, until 2 a.m. was the answer.  The concept of the Tap Room Underground was born.

When general manager Casey arrived on the scene last December to assist in this transition, he saw a few things that had to change right away.

"It was supposed to be a bar, but what we had was more of a counter," recalls Casey.

Casey 86-ed the expansive wooden dining tables, replacing them with high tables and raised seating. Then he installed a classic bar any bartender would be proud to stand behind. 

Beyond the bar stretches a long hallway lined with an army of shiny tin man-looking apparatuses; that's where the beer magic happens. 

Nestled at the end of the hall is the Underground, where the music magic happens. It's a cozy, intimately lit space, thoughtfully decorated by Tacoma-based decorator Lisa Faulk to display the four directives Casey gave her when she began work on the space: music, underground, Harmon and Tacoma. 

"We are proud to be part of Tacoma, and proud of the part the Harmon has played in the revitalization of the city," says Casey. 

The pride shows with a Tacoma-heavy line-up for this weekend's official "Grand Opening." Harmon favorites like the Kim Archer Band and Steve Stefanowicz are lined up, and scheduled in the great company of the band Ben Union along with Travis Barker, Pete Johnson and Seattle-based artists Kate Lynn Logan and Gina Belliveau. The Tap Room Underground's Grand Opening will be free, with music starting at 6 p.m., and punctuated by two happy hours, 3-6 p.m. and 9-11 p.m.

The event and the venue are both 21-and-over, which could potentially be good news demographically speaking for the newest addition to the Harmon group, as it is the only Harmon location that is, with all due respect, not family friendly. 

"The focus," Casey points out, "is not only on the 21-29 age range, but on anyone over 21 who enjoys music and wants that late night party atmosphere."

Thanks to Gabe Mira of Setlist Music, the party will continue long after the opening gala ends, says Casey - telling the Volcano Mira "has played a huge part in defining the standard and variety of music this venue will feature."  Moving forward, live music will be featured every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, with additional nights added for special events.

The party starts this Saturday night at the new Tap Room Underground.

[Tap Room Underground, Grand Opening, with Kim Archer Band, Steve Stefanowicz, Ben Union, Travis Barker, Pet Johnson, Kate Lynn Logan, Gina Belliveau, Saturday, March 3, music starts at 6 p.m., no cover, 21+, 204 St. Helens St., Tacoma, 253.212.2725]