Jon Crook is a co-owner and director of sales and marketing for Boone Valley Brewing Company in Boone, and says that after more than five years in business there, it was time to begin looking at filling a gap in the market in western Iowa. The search for the perfect location ended in Carroll, and Crook will be the acting CEO of a new business in town that will fill that void—a craft beer brew pub, Carroll Brewing Company.
The entire area, Crook says, is thirsty for this expanding industry.
Crook and investors are currently looking at the former Carroll Auto Salvage yard on east Highway 30, but they are awaiting testing of some core samples from the property. Their plans are to raze the buildings and erect a new 14,000-square-foot structure. Ten thousand square feet of that will be production space with the remaining 4,000 dedicated to retail. There are many Carroll-area investors already on board with Carroll Brewing Company, but Crook says now is the right time for those considering this type of investment to come on board. There is fast-paced growth in craft beer production in both central and eastern Iowa, but really no growth at all in this area because the market is not developed. Crook says this is really a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor, to be a leader in helping to seed that market; it is an opportunity to be the first in the region.
They are hoping to break ground yet this month, and if all goes well, hopefully be open in November of this year. Crook says they are excited to get things rolling.
Interested investors are encouraged to contact Crook for more information at the number included below. And for those looking to get a sampling of what Boone Valley Brewing Company produces, it is just a short drive to Boone this afternoon to take part in the first Boone River Valley Festival. They are hosting a family-friendly block party beginning at 4 p.m. with live music, food vendors and, of course, craft beers. Boone Valley Brewing Company has distribution to 53 counties, about 300 draft accounts and product in 79 grocery stores.
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Jon Crook: 515-709-0030
