Developer seeks brewery partner for exciting Batavia complex

Buffalo-based Savarino Companies wants to attract a craft brewery to its $22 million Ellicott Station development

Note: This is sponsored content.

Batavia is buzzing and ripe for growth.

And one western New York developer is seeking a partner to help add another exciting destination to bustling Genesee County.

Through a $22 million investment, Buffalo-based Savarino Companies wants a like-minded brewery partner as its transforms a contaminated and abandoned industrial site and rail yard into a mixed-used community where people can live, work, and play.

At Ellicott Station, a transformative project that could serve as a gateway to downtown Batavia, ground was broken earlier this month and work is progressing quickly as the former brownfield is cleaned up. And as New York’s beer scene continues to thrive and grow, Savarino Companies is offering a wonderful chance to become part of an exciting scene.

Photo: An aerial rendering shows the scope of the Ellicott Station development in downtown Batavia.

The city of 16,000 people, which sits roughly halfway between Buffalo and Rochester, two of the state’s four largest cities, is primed for investment. There is a dynamic opportunity available, Samuel J. Savarino, president of Savarino Companies, noted, as Genesee County was recently highlighted as the third best micropolitan area (cities between 10,000 and 50,000 residents) for business investment by Site Selection magazine. It’s the 17th year in row the magazine has highlighted the Batavia area.

As New York surpasses 500 breweries and continues to add to its reputation as a craft beer destination, Savarino pointed out how the area between Buffalo and Rochester remains underserved. (Genesee County only has one brewery.

“From the start, we knew that a food and entertainment facility featuring local and New York state products centered around a brewery and beer garden would succeed at Ellicott Station. Research shows millennials love and support craft beer and breweries as an integral part of their communities,” Savarino said. “They see places such as this for what they’ve been for centuries: family-friendly community hubs and a home for celebrations, events and shared relaxation; what a sociologist might call a great third place.”

By the numbers

Recognizing the potential for growth in Batavia and surrounding areas, the Genesee County Economic Development Center began laying the foundation for success years ago. This has resulted in businesses investing nearly $350 million in 2021, Savarino said, and an estimated $645 million in economic impact for the county.

And Savarino noted housing in Batavia remains affordable. According to Ellie Mae, over 75 percent of the homes purchased in the city in 2018 were bought by single millennials. Spurred by the pandemic, remote work is sure to continue that trend.

Photo: This rendering shows the spacious exterior beer garden at the brewery development at Ellicott Station in downtown Batavia.

Batavia remains a destination and is really the crossroads of western New York. Nearly 10 million people travel through its downtown corridor every year and it sits in close proximity to the New York State Thruway and state Route 5. That makes it a viable option for commuters, industries reliant on shipping and receiving, and developers looking to build homes and other projects.

Beer is booming in New York state. In 2021, 1.25 million barrels of beer were produced by craft breweries, according to the New York State Brewers Association. That number has nearly tripled in just 10 years, making New York the third largest beer producing state in the country. And in 2022, the number of breweries in New York is poised to surpass 500, up from just 95 in 2012. Overall, New York craft breweries were responsible for $5.4 billion in economic impact in 2021.

A ready-made home

Savarino Companies was selected by local elected officials more than five years ago to redevelop the 3.31-acre site. Once completed, it will include office, retail, residential, recreational and entertainment space.

A brewery has always been at the heart of the vision, Savarino said. The developer originally signed an agreement with Buffalo-based Resurgence Brewing to occupy the space. But those plans fell through as the relocation of uncharted public utilities, plans for remediation of on-site contaminants, and obtaining public approvals posed challenges. “They simply could not wait any longer,” Savarino said of Resurgence Brewing. “We were disappointed, to be sure. But we understood.”

But failure was never an option, especially when the Batavia community was promised a brewery. They’re holding fast to the notion that aligning a brewery with the project is the right fit for the project and Batavia. So construction on the brewery is moving forward and is expected to be completed by 2023.

Photo: The proposed brewery taproom features an open layout that overlooks both the brewery and exterior beer garden.

“Essentially, we are looking for the proper partner to help us write the final chapter to this story,” said Savarino, who has directly operated and managed other retail establishments and entertainment venues.

The building at Ellicott Station was once home to a factory, so Savarino thought it would be a perfect spot for a brewery. The space will include room for a production brewery, tasting room, banquet room, and an outdoor European-style beer garden. It will be big enough for a 15-barrel brewhouse, capable of production 2,500 to 3,000 barrels of beer per year at full capacity. There’s also enough space for a canning line and cold storage, as well as a shipping and receiving area. The second-floor event space can accommodate 180 people, while the first floor will feature a taproom and kitchen overlooking the beer garden.

The buildout he and his team are constructing has everything a brewery could need, Savarino said, “... we just need a brewer.”

Those who are interested in learning more about the project can contact Kylie Gordon, Savarino Companies development operations manager, at (716) 332-5959 ext. 343, KylieG@SavarinoCompanies.com, and www.SavarinoCompanies.com.

One final note

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