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Brewing New Life into the Eureka Mill Historic Site

February 1, 2018

 

Lincolnton, NC – 3PM Brewing Co., one of the Charlotte regions newly anticipated breweries, is looking forward to opening its first taproom and production facility in downtown Lincolnton in Fall 2018. The facility will be located in the historic Eureka Manufacturing Company Cotton Mill on 414 E. Water Street. They will be seeking the approval of the City Planning Board followed by the City Council soon.

Rhonda Hunter, Entrepreneur Specialist with Lincoln Economic Development Association (LEDA), has been working with 3PM Brewing Co. as well as Willie Heafner and Craig Upshaw of Piedmont Companies who are the driving force behind this much-anticipated rebirth of the historic mill.

“The Piedmont Companies is excited to bring 3PM Brewing to Lincolnton! The brewer will provide a focal point for social activities and tourism in downtown Lincolnton. We would like to thank the City of Lincolnton, Lincoln Historical Association and Lincoln Economic Development Association for being great development partners in this project said Willie Heafner and Craig Upshaw.”

The beer-passionate partners behind 3PM Brewing Co., Co-Founders John Brinsfield and Fritz Steckler, aspired to create a brewery to highlight their creativity and passion for brewing great craft beer. In early 2017 everything fell into place professionally for both of them to start 3PM Brewing Co. Together, Fritz and John the brewmasters, bring more than 20 years of brewing and culinary knowledge to create distinct, ingredient-focused and experience-driven beers.

John Brinsfield expressed, “We are looking forward to bringing the craft beer experience to the Lincolnton community and greater Charlotte Region. 3PM is the culmination of each of our experiences from living and working as project managers and our love of craft beer. We can’t wait to be a part of this vibrant, growing community.”

Fritz Steckler added, “I look forward to the opportunity to express a creative vision that melds the art of brewing with the vibrancy of Lincolnton and Lincoln County.” Eureka and Cheers!!

The 6,000 square-foot first floor space will boast a production area with a 10bbl brewhouse for core beers, plus a smaller batch brew system for pilot, seasonal and one-off beers. The taproom space will be designed with the visitor in mind, bringing guests an engaging and sensory experience into the brewing process, along with an outdoor beer garden, a stage for live music, and available rentable space upstairs for private events. The brewery will offer an inviting space for guests to gather and enjoy their craft beers.

Rhonda Hunter added, “I am enjoying working with these enthusiastic entrepreneurs! They see the same vision of a brewery featuring the pottery of local artists, where craftsmen can pair a local craft brewed beer and great food, with potter’s legendary clay creations. Now that is Eureka!”

The Eureka Mill has a deep rich history and a local Lincoln County family tie with the Lineberger Family. They have had a desire to see a Pottery Museum as part of this development. To honor that, this project will incorporate that wish as well as have the pottery on display throughout the area for the patrons to enjoy and add to their personal collection. Lincoln County currently has over fifty potters who work in a 50-mile radius and carrying on a rich tradition that spans nearly two-hundred and thirty-five years. We anticipate the combination of these under one roof will become a destination for not only the craft beer enthusiasts, foodies, but pottery collectors as well. We will work closely with Jason Harpe, Lincoln County Historical Association to make this a reality. Pottery will add to the uniqueness of this project as well as enhance the “Pots on Parade” featuring local artist Luke Heafner’s famous jug face creations already enjoyed in our Downtown Lincolnton Main Street area. This was a community effort, where other local potters were given the opportunity to give each face jug a distinct face. “Pots on Parade” is sponsored by the Downtown Development Association.

Mayor Ed Hatley said “We are very excited about the acquisition of a brewery in downtown Lincolnton. The addition of a brewery at Eureka Mill completes a goal the Council has worked on to provide another destination site for Lincolnton. We would like to thank Piedmont Properties and LEDA for their work on this project.”

Steve Zickefoose, Lincolnton City manager shared “The City and Piedmont Companies have entered into development agreements to revitalize and develop areas within the downtown area. The conversion of the Eureka Mill property into a brewery an example of this effort. The City has invested significant funding by improving infrastructure needs for these developments. The Eureka Mill site provides an ideal location for a brewery as well as for other community activities. This will fulfill a major development goal and will add to the identity of Lincolnton as a destination point.” This is an example of the cooperative efforts of multiple local organizations, community partners and business entrepreneurs.”

About the Mill: Eureka Manufacturing Company Cotton Mill, also known as Tait Yarn Company and Lincoln Bonded Warehouse Company, is a historic cotton mill located in Lincolnton, Lincoln County, North Carolina. It was built between 1907 and 1910, and is a two-story brick factory building with a three-story stair tower. Adjacent to the factory is a two-story brick office building built between 1902 and 1906. The buildings housed the Eureka Manufacturing Company from 1906 to 1937, and Tait Yarn Company from 1949 to 1966. Lincoln Bonded Warehouse occupied the buildings into the late 1990’s. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.