Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader File Photo The former Crescent Pitcher Show at 220 S. Main St. in Shawano will be home to a microbrewery.
The Shawano Common Council on Wednesday approved a developer’s agreement that will turn the former Crescent Pitcher Show at 220 S. Main St. into a microbrewery, pub and entertainment venue.
The agreement with Stubborn Brothers Brewery, LLC, of Marion, provides a low-interest loan and a grant to the brewery, with the money coming from one of the city’s Tax Incremental Finance districts.
“First off, I just want to say how great Shawano is,” said Aaron Gilling, co-owner of Stubborn Brothers Brewery. “People are actually taking initiative, give grant dollars to improve their community. We don’t have enough of that.
“That’s one of the main reasons we chose to come to Shawano. You guys care. You’re trying to put effort into improving your community. It’s a huge testament to you guys.”
Gilling said the craft brewery will be a seven-barrel system, with six varieties offered.
“That will be about 250 to 300 gallons of beer,” Gilling said, adding the brewery will have the ability go up to 15 barrels.
“Our emphasis is really on a great venue of entertainment,” Gilling said. “We’re doing our best to keep the stage so can have an entertainment aspect as well.”
The 100-year-old Crescent still has its original vaudeville stage in place, though it’s been hidden for years by the Pitcher Show’s movie screen.
Gilling said an upstairs banquet hall is also planned, with food catered in.
“We have a lot of great restaurants in this area who can provide food, and help create an environment that’s fun, friendly and will be really good for everyone involved,” he said.
Gilling said it could take a year to a year and a half to complete the project.
“We’re already getting anxious to get going,” he said. “We’ll be pulling permits as soon as we can to start demolition and get things moving.”
The development agreement calls for the city to provide Stubborn Brothers with a $270,000 10-year loan at a 4 percent interest rate, and a grant of $80,000.
For its part, Stubborn Brothers is expecting to put about $547,000 in remodeling costs into the project.
It’s expected the building will have an assessed valuation of $500,000, including personal property, once the remodeling and renovation is done. If it falls below that figure, Stubborn Brothers will have to make a payment to the city in lieu of taxes to make up the difference in property tax revenue.