Business: As brewery system heads out, more things brewing at 333 Broad St. — including the return of a popular downtown chef.

A sad day in downtown Rome as the heart of the brewery at Rome City Brewing Co. heads south after a recent sale of the 10-barrel system. Up next: A new restaurant concept from Jay Shell at 333 Broad St. Photo courtesy of Michelle Picon.

Consider it the ultimate curbside service in this pandemic year of 2020. On Wednesday, downtown patrons watched as the 10-barrel brewing system that crafted thousands of gallons and cans of Rome City Brewing Co.’s eclectic mix of brews was loaded onto transport trailers for a new home in metro Atlanta. While the brewery born on Broad Street from Jay Shell and Dr. Trent Prault is gone, some of the favorites remain in stock for most of the rest of the year.

The location itself, 333 Broad St. and owned by Shell, is transforming yet again, this time back into a recent concept downstairs with a bar/lounge above it. In a midday Tweet Wednesday, Shell announced that his longtime executive chef at 333 on Broad, Jay Ward, is coming home. Ward, who has spent the last six years in film and at later an Italian restaurant, is returning to the new restaurant. They’ll start small — with a menu of six to eight items, including some of the famous burgers — and expand.

We’ll have those details soon.