Batavia committee approves grants for new downtown craft brewery

Aldermen voted to approve multiple grants for a new craft brewery in downtown Batavia during the March 29 Committee of the Whole meeting.

The owners of Sturdy Shelter Brewery, Frank and Diane Mercadente, were given the green light to open in the former Kluber Architects building in June of last year.

“We’re an independent craft brewery. We’re going to brew ales and lagers, a wide variety of experimental beers,” Frank Mercadente said at the meeting. “Hopefully there was something there that you liked.”

“They have been hard at work since at least last fall on their plans to open Batavia’s newest brewery at 10 South Shumway, which is the old Kluber building,” said Economic Development Manager Shannon Malik Jarmusz. “We’ve put together an economic development grant incentive package to discuss this evening.”

The brewery’s owners sought financial assistance in the form of three grants, including a downtown signage assistance grant and a down improvement grant to make the building safe and accessible, according to meeting documents.

“They’re also seeking a facade grant to assist with the installation of a garage door that would be visible from the Shumway right-of- way when you’re traveling south,” Jarmusz said. “To open it up during nice weather months and allow for a little bit of street presence there.”

Frank Mercadente said that the garage door would also allow for the potential for food trucks to be parked near the brewery.

Meeting documents said that the total amount of funding between the three grants would be $31,000.

“The public might wonder what the source of funding for grants like this is,” said Batavia City Administrator Laura Newman. “These particular grants are funded by our TIF districts. So the increments that are being generated on an annual basis, we are utilizing to invest in people like Frank and Diane who are making exponentially more of an investment than we’re providing in these grants to create viable businesses.”

The grants will be presented during the April 4 City Council meeting for final approval.

Frank Mercadente explained how the building’s own history influenced his approach to the new brewery.

“Many of you know that this building, it started out as an opera house and a theater. It was renovated beautifully,” Frank Mercadente said. “We’re hoping to get your support to bring it back to the original intent, where it was a place that the community gathers.

Mayor Jeff Schielke commented that he remembered when the building was used as a movie theater.

“We’re all about making great craft beer, but in addition to that we’re all about community,” Frank Mercadente said. “The name ‘Sturdy Shelter’ comes from a [Bible] verse that says, ‘faithful friends are a sturdy shelter, and whoever has one has a treasure.’ So we’re hoping to be a place where the community can gather.

Multiple aldermen commented that they had been receiving questions about when the brewery will open.

“I’ve had tons of comments and had to answer a lot of questions when people ask,” said Alderman Alan Wolff. “Everybody’s excited when the new place comes in, and it’s something that we don’t have right downtown that people want.”

Mercadente said that he expects the brewery to open to the public this summer.