It's a small step in the process, but Chatham is getting closer to having its own craft brewery.
CK council has approved the rezoning of the former Cinema Six on Adelaide St. S, as a group of entrepreneurs prepare to convert the space to a beer making and tasting facility.
Chatham Councillor Michael Bondy went to school with a couple of the brewery developers and says they know what they're doing.
"They've worked for breweries and set up these pubs, I think primarily in Western Canada," says Bondy. "It's not just an idea of guys wanting to create a brew pub. These guys have done it successfully."
Few details have been released thus far about the potential brewery, but Bondy adds this is could be a huge game changer for downtown Chatham.
"It's great use of a building that might otherwise have trouble finding a new tenant. The former theatre is a very large space, requiring a lot of money. But the guys coming forward are dedicated," says Bondy."
One of the developers, Alf Hunter, declined to comment following Monday's decision, saying it's too early in the process to discuss the project further.
