It started as a hardware store. Then it was a library. Now, the city-owned building on the corner of Third and North Holly could become Canby’s first brewpub.
Canby Brewing Company was one of four parties to submit a proposal during the RFP process the city conducted late last year, and theirs was the one selected by the city council as being the most promising and desirable during a work session last week.
According to documents shared with the Canby Now Podcast, the company proposed a 10-year lease, with two five-year options to renew.
Canby Brewing brewmaster Jered Sloss (the company is owned by his wife, Sara) said they’ve looked at a number of different locations, including the old police station in the Canby Civic Block, which is also for sale or lease. This space, though, is larger and in better condition, and it has that one asset Realtors claim trumps everything else: location, location, location.
Jered has been brewing as a hobby for 13 years, and has won a number of contests, including a best in show award from the Oregon State Fair and a first place showing at the National Homebrew Competition. (The team here at the Canby Now Podcast has personally tasted some of his work and let’s just say, we’re excited to try more.)
Their business plan indicates the brewpub will feature 15 taps, 12 of them offering house beers, two with craftmade soft drinks such as root beer and ginger ale, and one reserved for a rotating hard cider.
The 12 house taps will include an array of different beers, with two rotating “experimental IPA” taps and two seasonal taps. The brewery will hold seasonal release events throughout the year and also plans on brewing collaboration beers with other breweries.
But Canby Brewing will also be a restaurant. Jered says the concept is sort of a modern, fusion take on barbecue.
Jered says they don’t have a timeline yet. The building needs renovations inside and out, not to mention the financial and lease negotiations with the city that will take precedence over everything.
The couple has solicited the services of the experienced consulting firm TurnKey Brewery & Restaurant Consulting to assist them in launching the new commercial enterprise.
Canby Economic Development Director Jamie Stickel said nothing has yet been finalized, but she has been given the go-ahead to begin working with Canby Brewing on various details of their proposal. The final lease agreement will ultimately be subject to the approval of the Canby City Council, with a decision expected within the next few months.
Stickel said the other three proposals for the library were also very strong, a sentiment echoed by Mayor Brian Hodson. They included an expansion of a daycare program already operating in town and a children’s indoor playplace.
