The article is published as part of an exclusive content-sharing agreement with neo-trans.blog.
In the latest episode of “where are they looking now,” Great Lakes Brewing Company (GLBC) reportedly has its eye on a site in suburban Westlake near the Interstate 90-Columbia Road interchange for a new craft beer production facility. But the deal isn’t done and the city of Cleveland reportedly is striving to keep one of Ohio’s largest craft brewers in the city.
The site being considered is the former True Value Hardware distribution center, 26025 First St. The 1972-built, 408,251-square-foot center and its 21.6 acres of land are listed for sale but no price was listed by its real estate brokerage Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL). For tax purposes, Cuyahoga County appraised the property at $11.9 million in 2024.
Two sources familiar with the deal who spoke to NEOtrans on the condition of anonymity said that The Foran Group of Avon Lake is seeking to buy the property and lease roughly half of the distribution center to GLBC for a production facility. A GLBC spokesperson didn’t deny or correct this information when contacted by NEOtrans.
“Thanks for reaching out,” wrote GLBC Brand Marketing Manager Marissa DeSantis in an e-mail. “Sorry, but we have no comment.”
This is a floor and site plan for the 400,000-square-foot distribution center in Westlake that has caught Great Lakes Brewing Company’s eye. GLBC could lease roughly half of this facility. For comparison of how large this building is, the Dave & Busters’ gaming establishment is at lower left, next to Interstate 90. North is at right (LoopNet).
“Please be advised that all of our engagements are governed by a confidentiality clause, which expressly prohibits the disclosure of any deal-specific details,” said David Stecker, managing director of JLL’s Cleveland office. “We take this obligation very seriously to protect our clients’ interests.”
A source at Cleveland City Hall said they were familiar with GLBC’s search for a new production facility and that it included sites outside of the city. The source said they were “Putting on a full-court press” to keep GLBC production facility and its jobs in the city.
The Westlake site became available after True Value Hardware filed for bankruptcy in October 2024 and was acquired by Do It Best. According to a Worker Readjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filed with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, 82 employees lost their jobs from the distribution center’s closure.
If GLBC moves to Westlake, a tasting room is a likely addition. The proposed site is visible from I-90 and next to Dave & Busters’ full-service restaurant, full bar and video arcade establishment.
GLBC has more than 200 employees among all of its operations — administrative, production, canning and hospitality. It was Ohio’s largest craft brewer until April when it was surpassed by Rhinegeist Brewery in Cincinnati, according to the latest rankings by Colorado-based The Brewers Association.
Rhinegeist earned 16th place for craft brewers and 27th overall among all brewers. Great Lakes — the oldest craft brewery still operating in Ohio — fell one spot to 18th for craft brewers and 29th overall.
At the end of 2023, NEOtrans learned of a potential move by GLBC to a planned, newly constructed, 200,000-square-foot production facility on a 17-acre property on Chester Road next to I-90 in Avon. The proposal was later confirmed by GLBC. The plans were dropped after GLBC parted ways with then-CEO Mark King.
NEOtrans was contacted by an unidentified Rocky River city employee this week who said they received inquiries about rates for brewery wastewater at the Rocky River Wastewater Treatment Plant which serves Westlake but not Cleveland; the employee didn’t identify who inquired. So NEOtrans reached out to sources who identified it was GLBC and what is in the works.
Any move of GLBC’s production facilities from its cramped, 40,000-square-foot Ohio City location, where it has been for 37 years, would not affect GLBC’s Ohio City brewpub at 2516 Market Ave., sources said. GLBC has confirmed this in the past. The Ohio City brewpub was renovated only a month ago.
A relocation of the craft brewer’s production facility would also not affect GLBC’s plans for a riverfront entertainment venture and beer garden on Scranton Peninsula in the Flats.
The Cleveland Building Department issued a permit on May 30 so GLBC-hired contractors could begin making site improvements at 1988 Carter Rd. for a project titled “Scranton Road Redevelopment Phase 1.” However, the permit hasn’t been picked up yet, according to public records.
The site improvements include “minimal site demolition, grading and installation of utility services including water, sanitary and electrical services … necessary to make the property buildable for a future use,” according to the permit application. Cost of the work was estimated at $600,000.
GLBC owns that 1.87-acre property through an affiliate called Carter River Front LLC It also owns another 8 acres of land on the inland side of Carter under the name Carter Inland LLC. GLBC had considered that for a production facility but has since shied away from it due to space constraints. In 2021, GLBC spent about $650,000 to level and grade the Carter Inland site.
When NEOtrans broke the story about GLBC’s riverfront site preparations, GLBC’s Co-Owner Daniel Conway issued a written statement saying that their Flats activity was limited to the development of a riverfront entertainment venture and beer garden. Daniel Conway and his brother Patrick founded GLBC.
“While we continue to explore more efficient production options and capabilities, we are also interested in providing experience-based opportunities for Great Lakes Brewing Co. followers – in the city of Cleveland,” Conway said.
NEOtrans reached out to City of Cleveland Press Secretary Marie Zickefoose, City Councilman Kerry McCormack, Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough and Pat Foran of The Foran Group seeking comment and more information for this article. None of them responded prior to publication of this article. This article will be updated with any responses they choose to make.
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