Construction starts on Leland breweries

It’s been a long time bubbling up to the surface, but a brewery planned for the Leland Gateway District is laying its foundations this week.
 
Plans for the brewery were first announced in 2019, but since then, had been on hold, according to CEO Mark Said, attributing the delay “predominantly” to circumstances driven by the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
“COVID struck down many startup business loans,” he said Tuesday. “But we’re back on track. We poured concrete today and we hope to be open in the first quarter of 2023.”
 
The brewery is taking shape with a name change. Co-owners Said and Chris LaCoe initially dubbed their establishment 7twenty6 Brewing Co., but had to scrap that moniker because of a trademark issue with a brewery in Texas.
 
The site, at 133 Old Fayetteville Road across from Leland Town Hall, is located in what Leland calls its Gateway District. This stretch of Village Road was rezoned in 2011 to encourage new and revitalized development as an urban residential and business district.
 
“There are two Lelands: the new Leland with all the housing developments, and the [older part of] Leland,” Said said. “We are trying to revitalize the Gateway District, an area that’s more family-friendly. Our site sits in a residential area, where people can come visit us and get a great meal and a beverage.”
 
The brewery, he continued, is planning a “destination-type scenario.” Its 2.5-acre site will feature a nearly 8,000-square-foot industrial-style building, 60% of which will be devoted to production; the remainder will be built out as a tap room. The surrounding site will be developed as green space for events and activities, including space for children to play.
 
Said and LaCoe are in discussions with a Wilmington food establishment to provide food service through a kiosk in the brewery. That will leave them and their team free to concentrate on the beer.
 
“We are looking to be one of the larger providers of beer and beverages in the Southeast,” Said said. “Once we establish ourselves, we’re planning to produce 4,000 to 5,000 barrels a year.”
 
In addition to Said and LaCoe, who serves as the company’s chief operating officer, Leland Brewing Co.’s startup team consists of brewmaster Ethan Hall, assistant brewer Lydia Hall, and marketing and sales representative Nick Floyd.

Leland Brewing Co.'s announcement follows recent news that Brunswick Beer and Cider, a sister venture to Wrightsville Beach Brewery in Wilmington, plans to open by the beginning of October. Located at The Villages at Brunswick Forest at 1313 S. Dickinson Drive, Brunswick Beer and Cider will be the Leland area's first brewery.

While Brunswick Beer and Cider aims to open on Oct. 1, the true opening date is flexible depending on how construction progresses, said owner Jud Watkins. 

The sister brewery of Wrightsville Beach Brewery, Brunswick Beer and Cider will be similar, Watkins said, but will also feature unique drink and menu items. 

At about 13,000 square feet, the Brunswick brewery is roughly 25% larger than Wrightsville Beach Brewery, Watkins said. “We’re very excited. We’re ready to crank out some more beer,” he said. “We’re bursting at the seams at Wrightsville, which is a good problem to have, but still a problem.” 

Overall capacity is tight, he explained, due to a lack of cooler space left in Wrightsville Beach Brewery. “We can’t make enough beer fast enough and don’t have enough cold storage for it,” he said. Brunswick Beer and Cider opening will help alleviate some of that pressure for the Wrightsville brewery, Watkins said, but will focus on Brunswick-branded brews. 

Some menu items will be familiar, Watkins said: “We’ll definitely be taking some of our favorite pizzas over.” 

Complete with a full restaurant, the new build is also a brewery (as opposed to simply a taproom) and will add cider into the mix. 

Reporter Johanna F. Still contributed to this story.