Last Call: Maui to Open Restaurant; 5 Rabbit ‘Dumps Trump’

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Maui Brewing to Open Oahu Restaurant

What’s a cheeseburger in paradise without a beer? Maui Brewing, in its plans to open its first Oahu location next fall, is set to take over the space currently occupied by Jimmy Buffett’s at the Beachcomber, reports the Star Advertiser.

Maui is planning a multi-million dollar renovation project to commence next spring, per the report, before opening the new “restaurant concept” in Waikiki. The new restaurant, according to the report, will be owned and operated by Maui Brewing Waikiki LLC, a partnership between Maui Brewing, restaurateurs Bill Terry and Chris Thibaut, and the Outrigger Enterprises Group, a Hawaiian hospitality company that last year leased the space to its current operators.

The current restaurant, one of many branded with the name of America’s most leisurely rock star, is located on the upper lobby level of the Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber Resort.

5 Rabbit to Donald Trump: Chinga tu Madre

In light of racist comments made by Donald Trump, the Latino-run 5 Rabbit Cerveceria, which had been brewing a house beer for a Trump Tower bar in Chicago, is ending its professional relationship with the offensively coiffed billionaire. While announcing his candidacy for president last week, an unhinged Trump unleashed an anti-immigrant screed, claiming that Mexico isn’t “sending their best,” but rather that “They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re bringing rapists” into the United States.

In response, a number of businesses, including NBC and Univision, severed ties with Trump. 5 Rabbit, owned and operated by Latino Americans, followed suit and is now rerouting kegs of the beer, brewed specifically for Rebar Lounge in Trump Tower, to area bars and restaurants for special tappings, reports Good Beer Hunting.

“In Latin America, people are used to having to fight for inclusion too, so we’re not afraid to do it here,” said 5 Rabbit founder Andres Araya. “And why not do it with the same beer? Our beer and our brewery are meant to be inclusive too.”

Oh, and the beer has a couple of new names: “Chinga tu Madre” or, alternatively, “Chinga tu Pelo.” Translated, well, 5 Rabbit is suggesting the Donald do something unsavory with his mother (and his hair).

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New Hampshire Governor’s Beer Bill Veto Overruled

Earlier this month, New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan vetoed a bill that would have allowed for the sale of alcoholic beverage products featuring labels depicting minors, so long as the artwork didn’t actually promote underage drinking. After slamming the governor’s decision as an overreach of power, the state’s Senators joined the House on Wednesday to override the veto, effectively making the bill a law, reports the Associated Press.

The bill will clear the way for the sale of beers like Founders Breakfast Stout, which had previously been banned in the state due to its label and prominently features an infant. Rep. Keith Murphy (R-Bedford), who also runs a popular bar in the state, first introduced the legislation. Aren’t alcohol politics fun?

New Plans for Brooklyn’s New Home

The Real Deal reported earlier this week that Staten Island Marine Development, the owner of New York City’s largest privately held industrial site, plans to add 3 million sq. ft. of warehouse space as part of the redevelopment project. It’s unclear if the additional warehouse space is connected, but Brooklyn Brewery is planning to build out a 440,000 sq. ft. brewery and 300-seat restaurant onsite, and informed The Real Deal of new plans to add a retail component.

“We originally had not planned retail, but realized people would want to come see the facility so we’d better add a visitor center,” Brooklyn CEO Eric Ottaway told the website.

Brooklyn Brewery’s current Williamsburg headquarters is on the market and is expected to fetch more than $50 million, the article adds. Brooklyn had already signed a lease on that space through 2025.

Firestone Walked to Expand Warehouse

The Paso Robles Planning Commission greenlit Firestone Walker’s plans to invest $6 million in building out a new warehouse and additional parking spaces, reports the San Luis Obispo Tribune. The company plans to add 9,000 sq. ft. of additional office and warehouse space to an existing building, while also constructing a new 55,000 sq. ft. warehouse and 39 more parking spaces, according to the article. Construction is slated to begin later this year.