Brick Brewing Co.

[Spokes]

Brick Brewery buyer has big plans for building
August, 20, 2014 | James Jackson | Waterloo Chronicle | Link

The iconic Brick Brewery building on King Street South in Waterloo will soon have a new owner as the brewing company that’s called the edifice home for 30 years has found a buyer.

HIP Developments has agreed to purchase the nearly 115-year-old building at 181 King St. S. in a $4 million deal expected to close by Oct. 26. The company is looking to convert the ground floor of the building into a restaurant or pub, turn the upper floors into office space, then build a 20- to 25-storey condo or apartment tower above that.
Brick has been brewing beer at the location since 1984 and announced in the spring it was looking to sell.

“After 30 years it’ll be tough to leave,” said George Croft, president and CEO of Brick Brewing, in an interview last week. “Uptown has really changed. It’s a thriving, busy piece of property.”

The beer company plans to use the cash to expand its Kitchener operation on Bingemans Centre Drive and consolidate all operations, including brewing, at that location. The Kitchener facility is about four times the size of the Waterloo location.

The continued development of the uptown core along King Street, and the arrival of light rail transit by 2017, was another factor in their decision to relocate.

“For us, the landscape has changed and it’s not a great spot for an industrial facility,” said Croft.

Scott Higgins, vice president of HIP Developments, said the location of the site and its proximity to LRT appealed to them, as well as some of the historic architectural elements, such as the yellow masonry.

“We want to build a true mixed-use development and to be a showcase of how retail and office space can work together well,” Higgins said. Other recent projects by HIP Developments include the Sportsworld Crossing plaza in Kitchener and the Northfield Office Campus in Waterloo.

Built in 1899, the building was originally part of the Hoffman, Wegenast & Co. furniture company, which was located at the corner of King Street South and Allen Street West and where Waterloo’s Adult Recreation Centre is now located.

Now a brewery, it housed the upholstery workers and the business office at the time.

Michelle Lee, the city’s heritage planner, said the property is listed on the City’s Municipal Heritage Register as a non-designated property of cultural heritage value or interest.

Unlike designated properties, owners of non-designated properties do not require council approval to make alterations to the property.

The Ontario Heritage Act does, however, provide municipalities with 60 days to process demolition applications for listed, non-designated properties. Municipalities typically have 10 days to process a demolition application for a residential property and up to 20 days for commercial properties.

“This gives council time to evaluate whether the property merits protection, and if deemed appropriate, to initiate the process of designation under the Ontario Heritage Act,” said Lee.

As part of the sale agreement, Brick Brewery will lease back the building for up to two years to give the company time to transition production to the Kitchener site.

“This will ensure no shortage of stock for customers and no issue at all with supply,” said Croft, who said the company remains committed to Waterloo Region and Ontario.