BATTLE CREEK, MI — Arcadia Brewing Company has announced the construction of a new facility on Kalamazoo’s downtown riverfront — a $5.4 million investment in developing a mixed-use facility that is to include a Packaging microbrewery, Company office space, riverfront pub/eatery, and a riverfront beer garden.
“Arcadia’s expansion into Kalamazoo is an important and exciting milestone, not only for our company, but for the greater Kalamazoo and Battle Creek communities,” says Arcadia President and Founder, Tim Suprise. “ Arcadia is reinvesting in our Battle Creek operation and locating a new production and pub facility in downtown Kalamazoo will that will bring dozens of quality jobs and vitality to a strategically-important section of the city (River’s Edge), while reclaiming a part of the Kalamazoo River.”
In other words, Arcadia isn’t relocating; Arcadia is expanding.
“Recognizing our Company’s role within the Battle Creek community and maintaining loyalty to our existing patrons is just as important as the expansion itself,” Suprise says. “We are continually grateful to our distributor and retail partners as well as the many customers who have made Arcadia Brewing Company a success in Battle Creek, and we are optimistically looking forward to developing an equally important role and worthy presence downtown and the greater Kalamazoo community.”
Limited physical space in the Battle Creek location and a strong demand within the Michigan and Illinois markets forced the Company to reduce its distribution footprint almost 3 years ago, and meeting the demand for Arcadia Ales has been a challenge in the existing facility.
“This project began in August of 2011; I’m grateful for the world-class team that has come together over the past 11 months and effectively transitioned this opportunity into a thoughtfully considered mixed use development that included both City and State support” says Suprise. “We are proud that Southwest Michigan is our home. We’re excited to draw more craft beer enthusiasts to this region of our great state, and, thankful that we can continue to grow and develop as one of Michigan’s thriving and important craft breweries.”
A Charter member of the Michigan Brewers Guild, Arcadia Brewing Company was established in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1996 as a microbrewery and restaurant specializing in hand-crafted, British-inspired ales and wood-fired cuisine. Arcadia Ales are distributed throughout Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri, Kentucky, Kansas, and Pennsylvania, with plans to expand distribution into 6 additional markets (States) in 2013.