The New Ontario Brewing Company has received support from North Bay City Council for a Manufacturer’s Limited Liquor Sales Licence..
The licence will allow the microbrewery to sell and serve its product to customers as it expands to a new location..
“The approval for our licence is critical. Under Ontario law for a ‘By the Glass’ licence, there needs to be a municipal resolution,” explained company president and brewmaster Michael Harrison.
“The city’s resolution is more about bringing in the tourist element, bringing in the people from town so they can come into the brewery where it is fresh, right off the line and enjoy our product.”
Renovations are currently underway for a move from its current location on Cassells Street to the former Northern Honda building on Seymour.
The brewery has been operating out of its Cassells Street location for nearly five years.
“Moving into this much larger location is going to give us a little bit of room to breathe. But more importantly, room to produce more product, reach a larger marketplace and then hopefully grow employment in our community.”
Harrison is hoping within a couple of years to grow the company footprint by five to 10 full-time jobs, with one to two over the next few months.
“We’re going to go from having a brewery that is about 13-hundred square feet to having around 2-thousand square feet, just to have the customers to come in and have a pint and have that New Ontario experience. So almost doubling our current brewery size just in seating,” Harrison said.
“And then from a production standpoint, we’re going to go from about 500 square feet of production to closer to 6-thousand square feet of production. So, from a production point, we’re going to have a lot more space to bring in more tanks, to bring in new packaging equipment. And then the customers who do come in are going to be able to enjoy our product in a warmer atmosphere.”
There will be seating for around 30 people inside with an outdoor patio for the warmer weather.
“We feel it is going to be a much better customer experience for sure.”
Christian Tremblay, one of the company shareholders says the support the company has received from local licensees has been “overwhelming.”
“Which is why we have the opportunity to grow the business at this point, so we can produce more in terms of volume, and expand outside of North Bay. We already have licensees outside of North Bay, but we’re hoping to gain on that.”
The brewery currently has licensees for beer sales in bars and restaurants which are predominantly in northern Ontario, with a few in the south.
“We distribute to LCBO’s, beer stores and grocery stores all over the province from Windsor to Thunder Bay and Ottawa and pretty much everywhere in between we distribute to our wholesale clients,” said Harrison.
Customers can expect a new face on New Ontario Brewing when it opens.
“A lot of our branding that we have been using for the last few years has been very well received. When we open, you’ll see we’re taking a more fun approach to craft beer. Our product lineup has been selling extremely well, but we are going to have a couple of new products when we have the space to actually produce them.”
With limited space at Cassells Street, the business was limited to focusing mostly on its core brands.
“But with the increase in capacity, we’ll be able to bring in more innovative products, stuff that challenges us a little bit more as a brewery, and that is going to give our customers something unique that they never tried before.”
City Councillor Tanya Vrebosch called the expansion a great investment in the community.
“I think there was always an interest in expanding but sometimes red tape and bureaucracy get in the way,” said Vrebosch.
“I think the mandate of this council changing recently and giving staff that latitude to still work within the rules, but lets start making things happen in the city and lets not make it so hard for businesses to be able to grow.”
Local businesses are being asked for their input when it comes to growth.
“The business and retention program is great because staff is filling out a survey with business owners about their needs, what problems they have and we’re trying to address that. And to see if there is growth in their business, if they’re willing to bring their business one more step forward and I think that is good,” said Johanne Brousseau, chair of council’s Community Services, and Economic Development committees.
“As a business owner, it is much easier to keep your customers than to try and get new ones. So, for that, I am happy for New Ontario Brewing that they are expanding.”
