Beer Company Eyes Brewery, Tasting Room in Downtown Lemont

A local craft beer company could soon call Lemont its home.

The Brew Hounds Beer Company, a startup out of Naperville, is in talks to open a small brewery and tasting room in Old Town Square in downtown Lemont. The Talcott Avenue development currently houses Bottles, Petal Play Design Studio, and Pawz and Klawz Pet Salon.

"We're just a group of guys who love craft beer and wanted to pursue a company of our own," said Paul C., one of Brew Hounds' four partners.

"The missing piece is the location, which we need to really get started," Paul said. "We've been in preliminary talks for this space in Lemont, and so far we love everything about it."

A special village board meeting was held Monday at Bottles so officials could meet with the team behind Brew Hounds and hear their plans for the space. The event was attended by Lemont Mayor Brian Reaves, all six trustees and several village staff members.

According to Paul, the mission of Brew Hounds is simple: In addition to creating high-quality craft beer, the team hopes to distribute its products to local businesses and educate customers on the art of brewing. 

Paul was introduced to his partners—Tim, Chris and Ed—through a mutual friend. They met last fall at a meeting for the Plainfield Ale and Lager Enthusiasts (PALE), where they bonded over their love of craft beer.

"We've been brewing at home for a while now, but it was really within the past six months that the four of us decided to pool our resources and start a company of our own," Ed said.

Earlier this year, the team set out to find the perfect location to house their brewing operations. After looking at industrial spaces in Downers Grove, Romeoville and Plainfield, Paul came upon the vacant unit in Old Town Square, next to Petal Play Design Studio.

"The space had everything we were looking for in terms of space and design, and we loved the idea of being right on the canal in a downtown setting," Paul said.

Old Town Square and Bottles owner Jerry Kulhanek had originally envisioned the corner unit as a restaurant with outdoor seating when the development constructed in 2006. The unit has been vacant since the building was completed in 2008.

"I wouldn't have thought to put a brewery here, but I actually think it's a great fit. It would definitely complement the existing businesses in downtown Lemont, Bottles included," Kulhanek said.

Lemont Economic Development Director Jim Brown said the village is supportive of the brewery, which could serve as an attraction during festivals and special events.

"There are some minor obstacles that they would need to overcome, like getting their materials in and out of the building, but we're generally supportive of the concept," Brown said. He added that the Brew Hounds could make use of TIF funding to make any necessary modifications.

Trustee Paul Chialdikas, the village's economic development liaison, said he thinks the brewery could help bring more people into the downtown area.

"Looking at their plans and ideas for the space, I think it could give the town some visibility," Chialdikas said. "People might stop by the brewery for a tasting and then eat at one of our existing restaurants, plus I think it would be a draw during our downtown festivals. It's a nice synergy, in my opinion."

Should Brew Hounds secure the Lemont location, it would serve only as a brewery and tasting room. Food would not be served, but it's possible the venue could host special events.

Ed said his team would like to be up and running by the end of the year, hopefully in downtown Lemont. For now, they are still working with Kulhanek to determine feasibility.

"Craft beer, to us, is about passion and local identity," Ed said. "We love the historic, scenic feel of Lemont. It's an identity we want to be associated with, so we'd love to base our business here."

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