The City of Hammond’s re-entry into the craft-brew industry hopes to be up and running by November with the completion of Byway Brewery Co.
Co-owner Dave Toth joined Hammond Planning and Development Executive Director Phil Taillon, Mayor Tom McDermott Jr. and several other city officials to officially break ground on the brewery at 2825 Carlson Drive, though the flooring foundation hasalready been poured. Taillon pointed out the brewery is the fourth groundbreaking in the Oxbow Landing development east of Kennedy Avenue and south of the Borman Expressway in a year.
Byway replaces the ill-fated Flossmoor Station Brewing Co., which couldn’t secure the funding it needed to expand, officials said.
“If you look at the breweries in this area, Hammond once had one in Three Floyds, and we know how it turned out,” Toth said. “We’ve researched this for four years, and our model provides for growth so that we will never have to move out of this building.
“We’re looking forward to being good neighbors here. And we’ll have wine, for those who don’t like beer.”
McDermott lauded the Town of Highland Redevelopment Commission, which helped the city with funding for the redevelopment of the former River Park Apartments, the 25-unit blighted complex the city tore down 10 years ago. Without its help, the city would’ve had a gap in funding.
“The people who stay in the hotels (on Kennedy Avenue behind the Indiana Welcome Center) are very happy” with the development, McDermott said. “We need for these people to be able to have a nice meal, and this brewery will be that location.”
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Highland Redevelopment Executive Director Cecile Petro echoed the mayor’s view.
“The apartments were a drain on our communities and hindered redevelopment,” she said. “We’re very grateful they paid off the loan early so we can work on our own redevelopment.”
That development includes an Arts District anchored by the Town Theater further south on Kennedy Avenue, which Petro says complements Hammond’s efforts nicely.
“People will look for things to do, so the brewery creates another destination. It’s symbiotic,” Petro said.
Highland-Griffith Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mary Luptak added it’s nice when communities work together like Hammond and Highland have.
Taillon added that his department will issue Requests for Proposals for the two remaining parcels in Oxbow Landing by the end of the week.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.