Local craft beer brewing company to expand

The 4204 Main Street Brewing Co., Belleville’s pioneer in the craft brewery business, will open a canning facility and tasting room in the old Mad Pricer grocery store in the Market Place Shopping Center at 6401 W. Main St., a developer announced Friday.

Adam Hill, the developer who received tax incentives worth up to $2.49 million from the City Council on Monday to help pay for renovations of the aging shopping center, said Todd Kennedy will expand the brewery he opened in 2014 at 4204 W. Main St.

Kennedy could not be reached for comment.

“It’s an absolutely cool use of the space,” Hill said. “It’s going to bring a new element and a new offering to west Belleville. I think Todd is going to do exceptionally well there.”

Hill said the renovation will begin in August and that the new brewery could be open by November.

Hill, who is buying the shopping center from a bank, said he and Kennedy have agreed to terms for the site and that their attorneys are finalizing the lease agreement.

In a recent Facebook posting, 4204 Main Street Brewing said it had just received new brewing equipment and that the company wanted to hire five new employees for the brewing operations.

Earlier this year, the brewery opened a beer garden behind the restaurant at 4204 W. Main St. that features a bar, fire pit and a spot for live entertainment.

Hill said he will be responsible for renovating parts of the shopping center such as the roof, electrical system and air conditioner while Kennedy will pay for the improvements needed for the brewery and tasting room.

Here’s a breakdown on the tax incentives authorized for Hill:

▪  An extra 1 percent sales tax will be collected on items purchased within the shopping center. This money will be used to help pay for renovations in the center. Shoppers now pay 8.1 percent in sales tax. Aldermen created a special business district that allows for this tax to be collected.

▪  A $275,000 TIF grant will be awarded to Hill for the renovation. Hill has said the cost to buy the site and renovate it is about $4 million.

The shopping center currently has a Family Dollar, Subway, Marco’s on Main and Shenanigan’s restaurant and sports bar.

Mayor Mark Eckert said Kennedy had talked to him about finding a place to expand several months ago and Eckert said he asked Kennedy to speak to Hill about the Market Place Shopping Center.

“I’m very happy to see this connection because it strengthens Adam’s project at 6401 and it helps Todd with an immediate need he has of finding a space that can be developed quickly to set him up so he can produce more beer,” said Eckert, who said the city has sought a viable tenant for the Mad Pricer site since he became mayor 11 years ago.

Eckert also noted the Market Place Shopping Center is only about 22 blocks down West Main from Kennedy’s brewery and restaurant at 4204 W. Main St.

This story was originally published July 22, 2016 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Local craft beer brewing company to expand."