Terry Williams
Common Roots Brewing Co., whose brewery burned down in a March 25 fire, is already planning to rebuild and has been getting assistance from the community and other craft brew manufacturers.
Supporters of the South Glens Falls business went to the Queensbury Hotel on Sunday, April 7, for a “Rally for Roots” event to help raise money.
The fundraiser featured locally made beer, live music, raffles and silent auctions. The project also has a GoFundMe fundraising page.
The fire at the 58 Saratoga Ave, facility was ruled an accident None of the brewery’s 20 employees were injured.
At the time, the owners—Bert Weber and Christian Weber, the father and son duo who opened the brewery in 2014—were planning an expansion and broke ground on that project in March.
The company planned a 350-square-foot expansion of the first-floor taproom, as well as a new second story. The space was intended to give the business room for additional bathrooms and a kitchen. The second story would also be used for event space.
But much of the brewery, taproom, and second-floor office space was destroyed or severely damaged, according to a statement posted on the GoFundMe page. The site said they have already surpassed a $10,000 fundraising goal.
The brewery’s taproom will “remain closed until further notice as we begin executing the necessary steps to rebuild,” according to the statement.“We are still working through the details and timeline of our rebuild. We know that we have a few tough months ahead. We also know that we will come out of this stronger than we were before.”
In addition to the over 130 donations the Weber family received through GoFundMe, the Schenectady-based Frog Alley Brewing held an event April 3 to raise money for Common Roots.
Another “Rally for the Roots” is to take place on April 12, at Takk House, an event space in Troy.
The Common Roots building was insured, according to media reports.
The owners have said a complete rebuild of the facility, as well as an expansion, are in the works for the brewery and, in the meantime, they are considering opening a pop-up brewery.
Its GoFundMe page can be found at www.gofundme.com/ywac3-common-roots-brewing-company.