Brewer-based brewer says it will expand to Auburn
Courtesy / USARestaurants.info
Mason's Brewing, aptly based in Brewer, plans to expand with an additional site in Auburn.
Mason's Brewing Co., of Brewer, is expanding to Auburn to anchor a mixed-use riverfront property set to be purchased and developed by Gorham-based Great Falls Construction.
"I'm super-excited we found the perfect developer to take us to the next level," Mason's owner Chris Morley told Mainebiz in a Thursday phone interview.
Mason's currently employs between 66 people and close to 80 during its busy season, and expects to hire another 50 to 58 employees in Auburn. Morley said he's not concerned about hiring challenges in Auburn, which has a larger population base than Brewer and because of its proximity to Portland.
At the new site in Auburn on the Androscoggin River, Mason's will operate a brewery, distillery and restaurant, city officials said.
The city is selling the 6,800-square-foot lot, at 186 Main St., to Great Falls a year after listing the property for sale, along with eight other city-owned properties. Besides Mason's, Great Falls Construction's plans for 186 Main St. include a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom rental apartments.
“Mason's is a great example of a high-end, existing operation that sees real value in expansion into Auburn due to our city’s growth and business-friendly policies,” said Auburn Mayor Jason Levesque.
Levesque recently told Mainebiz he expects $100 million in investment coming to the 23,400-population city this year along with the creation of 300 to 400 new jobs at new and existing businesses. He also said he sees a "good chance" of breaking $100 million by June 2023.
Mason’s will occupy the ground and first floors of 186 Main St. and expects to open by late spring or early summer of 2023.
The news comes two years after city officials began talking with Morley, who said the contact was initiated by a business acquaintance. After city officials visited Brewer to check Mason's out, things "snowballed from there."
Auburn Economic Development Director Jay Brenchick told Mainebiz that the sale of property is imminent but first requires a land title survey. He expects the purchase and sales agreement to be completed in a few weeks.
Sean Sullivan, executive director of the Maine Brewers' Guild, welcomed news of the Mason's expansion to Auburn.
"Mason's Brewing took a brownfield site in Brewer and turned it into a welcoming destination brewery that serves a hub of community activity around the Queen City," Sullivan told Mainebiz. "They'll be the perfect partner for this new development, and will continue to grow the reputation of Lewiston-Auburn as an awesome destination for beer tourists.
"With Gritty's and Baxter Brewing within walking distance, and just a short ride from Lost Valley Brewing and Side by Each, beer fans in the L/A area have an incredible diversity of brewpub options to enjoy."
Morley said Thursday that Mason's aims to work with all of the area's local brewers as it establishes a foothold in Auburn, starting with a collaboration this fall with Lost Valley.
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