Industrial Locations Dwindling In Brooklyn

Brooklyn Brewery has plans to expand but the industrial real estate market in Brooklyn is dwindling causing the owner Steve Hindy to shake his head.

By: James R. Lindamood

It wouldn’t make much sense for the Brooklyn Brewery to be in another area of New York, but with the high prices high rent and land prices in the borough it looks like that might be the only option for the business if they want to expand. After several land deals did not pan out owner Steve Hindy is at a loss as to what he will do to accommodate the need for a bigger brewery. Hindy is willing to pay $15 for the property that would include a beer tasting room and employ twice the number of employees as the current location. The brewery currently produces 12,000 barrels of beer per year but with the new facility could easily crank out 40,000 each year and have room to expand on their specialty brands.

When the brewery opened in 1996 it was one of only a few businesses in the Williamsburg sector of Brooklyn but today the area has seen a revitalization caused in part to the brewery. Multi-million dollar condos and homes have been built in the area and the city is pushing to make Williamsburg more about residential communities than the industry it has been known for.

For Hindy the thought of leaving Brooklyn for another location is less than appealing. In his mind the brewery embodies the history and culture of the area. It’s a place locals can have pride in because the brews are made in their own back yard. For now Hindy continues his search for a great location so that he can continue to make his dreams a reality.