MOOSE JAW — Three Moose Jaw businessmen are one step closer to realizing their dream of opening a family-friendly microbrewery that would act as a fun-filled gathering point for the community.
Council chambers on April 28 was filled with dozens of supporters of Sunset Brewing, as co-owner Mike Chowns spoke about the initiative, while business partners Christopher Milani and David Crompton sat in the gallery.
The men spent $100,000 last year to purchase 246 Caribou Street West, which was a former autobody shop before the city took ownership in September 2022. They expect to produce 5,000 litres to three million litres annually and could be open by 2026.
Saskatchewan’s breweries have seen “tremendous growth” and are an important part of the province’s craft beverage industry, driven by residents’ demand for local and high-quality beverages and beers with authentic flavours, Chowns said.
Beyond their economic success, microbreweries help build strong community connections by hosting events, live music and festivals and promoting tourism, he continued. Sunset Brewing would be a welcoming family-friendly space — featuring gatherings, cornhole competitions and other activities — with local food and beverages.
Rather than being a late-night party venue, the businessmen want to offer an intergenerational environment designed for fun and good conversations, he said. The brewery would be a gathering space for people to enjoy a locally crafted pint of their favourite ale, lager, cider or non-alcoholic option.
“We know our community wants this. … people of our city already travel to other cities for this kind of environment,” Chowns stated, adding that the trio collected signatures from more than 200 supportive people over 48 hours.
Resident Doug Reichel, a former businessman, spoke next in support, saying he saw this initiative as a win-win for the city in several ways.
He pointed out that this is a “real business employing real people using local talents, goods, resources and ingredients to generate meaningful capital and prosperity that remains in the community.”
“With this business, there is no parachuting into the city to set up a pseudo-business, post online services, hang a sign for a few months, then flip the property and leave Moose Jaw once a passport has been collected,” Reichel said. “This is actual building investment for actual services for long-term viability in Moose Jaw.”
This talented trio is applying their energy, vision, skills and capital to bring a family-friendly business here that other communities take for granted, he continued. His daughters, their husbands, their kids and friends travel regularly to Regina, Swift Current, Saskatoon and Nokomis to enjoy such breweries; Sunset Brewing would keep that money here and attract new money.
As a former wine importer, Reichel said Sunset Brewing would provide opportunities for adults and those with children to experience “the very best practices” of responsible alcohol use.
Lastly, this project encourages the city to demonstrate efficient handling of this application and a “can-do attitude” among staff at city hall, which would send a message that “Moose Jaw is really open for business,” he continued.
“Sunset Brewing checks a number of boxes of what a healthy city needs,” Reichel added.
Afterward, several councillors expressed excitement for the project and said they would enjoy visiting the business with friends once it opened.
Council then voted unanimously to approve the businessmen’s discretionary use application for 246 Caribou Street West, which is in the M1 light industrial district, where microbreweries are classified as discretionary use.
Furthermore, they must obey several conditions, such as no live outdoor music since it may cause problems for adjacent neighbourhoods — they can apply for exemptions if necessary — and ensuring “off-site nuisance factors,” such as noise, dust, vibration, odour and light glare, be “reasonably limited” to maintain the character of the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Also, the trio must address — to city administration’s satisfaction — accessibility issues so mobility-challenged people can attend.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, May 12.
