Microbrewery Benjamin Beer Company is rehabbing their new digs on 6th Street and plans to open sometime next spring.
Originally founded in Paddock Lake, Benjamin Beer grew too large for its location there and will now call Racine home.
Their new address is 507 6th Street, and work is underway to transform the space into a small pub/bar area and microbrewery that will bottle around 1,000 barrels a year. Owner Jim Kennedy told The Journal Times last month that he has the equipment, financing and most of the state and federal permits he needs to open in April or May.
On the company’s Facebook page, Kennedy posted a short video of the store, and response from fans has been encouraging, including offers to help paint and clean.
Kennedy said Benjamin Beer will be open primarily at night and on the weekends because he still has his full-time job as an emergency plan manager for the Zion, IL, Nuclear Power Station, the story continues.
The brewery joins several other new businesses that have opened recently on 6th Street between Main Street and Grand Avenue, including the Porcaro Indian Motorcycle dealership, Vero International Cuisine, 3rd Coast Bicycles and Krung Thai.
City alderpersons Dec. 15 unanimously approved an ordinance that allows breweries and brew pubs in commercial districts like downtown, Douglas Avenue and Regency Mall.