Manch is getting a Harpoon Brewery as part of what could be a very cool development downtown.
'Queen City Center' to bring Harpoon Brewery, other uses to downtown Manchester
Oct. 11—For the past year, Travis York has kept a secret about plans to transform an old industrial building in a prime spot in downtown Manchester into a space with a brewery, fitness studios and entertainment options.
The mixed-use development at 215 Canal St., to be known as Queen City Center, will feature Harpoon Brewery, which will open an experimental brewery, scratch kitchen and a taproom. The 30,000-square-foot space will also be home to Union Coffee, Barre Life and Wicked Joyful, a pop-culture shop with apparel and products from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.
"Getting all the tenants lined up has been in the works for about a year," said York, the founder and CEO of York Creative Collective, which includes GYK Antler (a marketing agency) and Big Brick Productions.
He was able to mostly keep the project under wraps because they didn't market the space through a real estate broker.
Another occupant will be City Club Golf, a members-only simulated golf club.
"It was important to me that we curated a group of like-minded companies," York said. "I wanted stuff that was locally owned and operated and stuff that I thought would bring some culture and community to Manchester."
York is taking on the multi-million project with his brother Kyle, who together are principals of York Real Estate. The project is being financed by St. Mary's Bank.
The Yorks own the prominent former R.G. Sullivan 7-20-4 Cigar Factory next door, which houses GYK Antler and other businesses. They also transformed Indian Head Athletics, which was owned by their parents, into Shoppers Pub + Eatery.
Travis York also serves on the Union Leader's board of directors.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen will hold a public hearing next week on a RSA 79-E tax relief program application for the project.
The tax credit program lets developers who improve blighted properties in downtown areas delay paying property taxes on the value of the improvements..
More projects nearby
Much of the original concrete and wooden ceilings at 215 Canal will be incorporated into the "industrial chic meets comfortable" decor of the new development.
The name comes from its central location near Delta Dental Stadium, SNHU Arena, the Millyard and downtown. The space is directly behind the DoubleTree hotel and expo center.
The development will have 40 parking spots and access to the nearby parking garage on Granite Street.
The two-story building was once home to Lew A. Cummings Co. Inc. More recently, Mentis Sciences occupied the space.
The Yorks bought the building for $2.3 million in October 2021, according to city assessor records.
Union Coffee, a specialty coffee roaster, and Barre Life, a fitness studio owned by local entrepreneur Ashley Oberg, will be on the ground floor. Both will offer outdoor space for their customers.
The redevelopment comes as a similar industrial building on Old Granite Street takes on new life. Hometown Coffee and the Goat Bar and Grill already are operating there, with Republic Brewing Co. set to be opened by Peter Macone, the former managing partner of Campo Enoteca and Republic Cafe.
Travis York sees the project as a complement to the recent growth in and near downtown, including hundreds of housing units.
"The city needs more unique, diverse kinds of spots," York said.
Jodie Nazaka, the city's economic development director, said the project will draw people from across the region as well as those those passing through heading north.
"When people go to a brewery, they usually hop around to different ones," she said. "It's going to be a destination for that."
The city envisions 7,000 new jobs as part of a $44 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration going for the new biofabrication industry starting to spring up in the Millyard.
"In order to realize those 7,000 jobs that are projected in that funding, we need to create an environment that people are attracted to," she said. "So that means not only creating attractive housing opportunities, but also entertainment and amenities."
More green space
Part of the Queen City Center project includes ripping up West Central Street, which the city discontinued, to make green space for an outdoor beer garden for Harpoon. The space — to be known as "The Quad" — will be redesigned with retaining walls and will feature artwork.
York said such spaces doesn't really exist right now downtown.
"We'll be able to have things like farmers' markets or art shows or different things like that," he said.
York's Big Brick Productions will operate up to three studios in the building in connection with GYK Antler.
Studio A, a 2,500-square-foot space, will be used for music and other ticketed events.
Comedian Nick Lavallee, owner of Wicked Joyful, will open his first retail spot in the development. He also will help with some of the creative design of the spaces. Lavallee was behind the effort to make Manchester the "The Chicken Tender Capital of the World."
Harpoon will take up about 12,000 square feet of the building, said York, who has done work for the brand in the past. Harpoon has locations in Boston and Windsor, Vermont.
"They are employee-owned, which is cool, because that means they really embrace the community and do a lot of charitable stuff," York said.
Charlie Storey, chief of customer engagement for Harpoon Brewery, said they jumped at the opportunity to open in the new space.
"We can't wait to create a vibrant, local spot where people can gather to enjoy incredible food, amazing New England beers — and most importantly — great times together," he said in a statement.
Queen City Center is 90% full, with room for maybe one more business, likely a shop.
"We want to see who comes out of the woodwork," York said. "We have a lot of interesting ideas of what this could end up being for a retailer or somebody else who fits the property."
