Finding a perfect spot for a microbrewery

Andy Daggett believes he has the perfect spot for P.E.I.’s next microbrewery.

“It’s a terrific setup,” said Daggett, the general manager with Souris Harbour Authority Inc.

Daggett is referring to the former Lot 45 Pub and Eatery at 41 Breakwater St.

Daggett estimates that the building has sat empty for more than a year. He said the property is “turn-key ready” with much of the former pub’s equipment still inside, such as the walk-in coolers and cooking grills.

The back of the restaurant has a large meeting room, which Daggett said would be perfect for microbrewery equipment.

“Honestly speaking, a restaurant on P.E.I., you’re going to be really busy for two months of the year. And then, you almost have to have something else to supplement it, which is where the microbrewery helps offset (it),” he said.

“If you had somebody set up here, it would be mostly eastern P.E.I. around the Souris area that would be supporting this.”

The harbour authority owns the 6,500 square-foot building with 60 parking spaces. The property is listed for sale at a price of $579,900. He said that price listing is a bit older, and negotiable.

Ideally, the harbour authority isn’t really interested in owning the property long-term and leasing it. It is more interested in selling the property or getting into a rentto-own type of arrangement. Even so, Daggett said all options are on the table, including leasing the property.

“Whatever works for somebody wanting to do this, we’re certainly interested,” he said. “I want to see this place rock. I want to see it busy down here. Whether we make money is not the main issue. It’s a service that we think is crucial and it draws people to the waterfront and gets things going down here.”