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LECOM Harborcenter credit: Pegula Sports and Entertainment
Lakewood, NY’s Southern Tier Brewing is building upon a growing family of taprooms that already includes venues in Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Charlotte with a new outlet in Buffalo, NY.
Set to open this summer, Southern Tier’s Western New York taproom will be located in the LECOM Harborcenter, a full-city bock mixed use development in downtown Buffalo.
Financed by Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula and owned by the Pegula’s company Pegula Sports and Entertainment, Harborcenter features multiple retail and restaurant spaces, a 205-room Buffalo Marriott Harborcenter Hotel, as well as two NHL regulation indoor hockey rinks, and soon Southern Tier Brewing’s newest taproom.
In a move that signals that Pegula Sports and Entertainment, who own a number of sport enterprises including the Buffalo Bills and the Buffalo Sabres, are moving away from owning hospitality businesses, the company is handing the keys to its (716) Food and Sport restaurant to Southern Tier brewing, for the new taproom.
Upon opening, Southern Tier’s Buffalo taproom will allow for onsite brewing, what the brewery describes as “an enhanced craft beer experience,’ as well as a retail area for Southern Tier swag and “to go” sales of beer and spirits. The new venue will also offer a from-scratch, beer-inspired food menu, and pour a full line of Southern Tier beers, ciders, seltzers and spirits.
“Since we opened our doors in 2002, Buffalo has been one of our top markets,” said Phin DeMink, founder of Southern Tier Brewing Company….
“We’ve always viewed Buffalo as home and always wanted a physical presence in the Buffalo market. We were looking for the right spot to share our great brands with our many friends and fans who have been such loyal supporters of Southern Tier over the years. We believe we finally found the perfect location.”
“Terry and I built LECOM Harborcenter to contribute to the rebirth of Canalside and our waterfront.” said PSE President & CEO Kim Pegula.
“Part of our plan has always been to find local partners to run these businesses when the time was right. It makes sense now to have our longtime partners at Southern Tier take over ownership and rebrand (716) Food and Sport.”
“We are confident that Phin, Sara and their team will enhance the great experience our fans have come to expect by doing what they do best, serving them their favorite locally brewed craft beers along with a new menu of hand-crafted, beer-inspired food items and appetizers.”
In 2014, Southern Tier joined the Artisanal Brewing Company family, a collection of drinks properties which currently includes Downingtown, Pennsylvania’s Victory Brewing and Brooklyn NY’s Sixpoint Brewery as well as Southern Virginia’s Bold Rock Hard Cider.
