WATERTOWN — The developers of a new brewery on Howk Street hope their work will connect people with Watertown’s history.
Nancy C. Henry said her brewery, Garland City Beer Works, will craft beers that reflect icons and locations in the city, and highlight the city’s past.
“There was great pride in the time of the Garland City,” Ms. Henry said. “There were entrepreneurs that did a lot of good things for the city, and that’s what we want to do down there.”
Watertown was at one time known as the Garland City in the late 1800s and early 1900s, according to the city’s website, as many Public Square businesses displayed red, white and blue decorative garlands on their facades.
Ms. Henry and her partner, Colleen M. Henegan, are looking to open in November, leasing the 8,000-square-foot space at 321 Howk St. The metal exterior will be taken off the building, she said, to show the building’s bricks.
“It’s a great location, and the building fits into the motif we’re going with, an industrial look, exposed everything.”
Ms. Henry previously worked with businessman Jacob S. Johnson to develop space on VanDuzee Street for the brewery. She said the brewery plan there fell through after realizing the cost of working there would be beyond her budget.
Ms. Henry said she is dedicating $450,000 to the brewery business.
The building is expected to be split, with half of the building used for the brewery, while the other half will be a commercial kitchen space.
In her work with Bottle Caps Beverage Center, Ms. Henry said she has had a chance to learn more about craft brewing, and what products are successful.
“I got involved finding out everything about craft, and finding the new and best beers to bring into the store,” she said. “When I’ve traveled I’ve always looked at breweries, what made them click.”
Recounting her own travels, Ms. Henry said that if the brewery can make quality beers, word will get around.
“If our beer is good, you’ll see people from Canada, from Syracuse, people going to the Thousand Islands coming down and giving it a try,” she said.
Her initial plan is to craft 90 percent of the beer for consumption in the brewery, with the rest for self-distribution.
The other half of the building will be dedicated to a commercial kitchen space primarily used by nearby Maggie’s on the River for its catering business.
In addition to the catering space, Ms. Henry said there will be spaces that chefs can rent to create food for sale to brewery customers.
“Most people can’t afford restaurants, but maybe they’re great cooks,” she said. “This will allow them to get their craft out there.”
Ms. Henry said she is working to get brewing and liquor licenses for the business.