USA, NE: Kinkaider Brewing Co. announces second location in Railside

Downtown Grand Island will get another craft brew pub come spring, the Grand Island Independent reported.

Kinkaider Brewing Co., based in Broken Bow, announced on January 29 that it will open a second location in Railside. The farm craft brewery is owned by Barry Fox, Nate Bell, Dan Hodges and Cody Schmick.

Kinkaider has been open for two years on a farm outside Broken Bow. The Grand Island location will move into the Nathan Detroit’s building after the restaurant closes this spring. "Our business has just flourished," Schmick said.

He said the four partners knew they wanted to take the next step with their business, which delivers beer across the state. Schmick said they knew they wanted to stay closer to home and Central Nebraska because Omaha already has many craft breweries.

"Grand Island was big on our list for potential places," Schmick said.

Schmick lived in Grand Island for a little bit after high school. He also met his wife in Grand Island. He said he and his partners scoped out other towns, but Grand Island was very enthusiastic to help them find a location downtown.

"There’s a group of individuals in the city that really love Grand Island and want to see it grow and succeed," Schmick said.

The Grand Island Area Economic Development Corp. and Railside’s Business Improvement District helped Kinkaider find a location and bring them to the area.

Since the original location in Broken Bow is unique — it’s on a farm — Schmick said the second location had to be special, too.

"When I walked into the Nathan Detroit’s bar, I knew there was potential there," he said. "I felt like when I first saw that, I couldn’t get that Nathan Detroit’s bar out of my mind."

He said it has great history that Kinkaider wants to pay homage to when it prepares to move in.

Kinkaider is aiming to open on May 1 after preparing the space. Kinkaider owners want to keep the same feel that Nathan Detroit’s has built, Schmick said, because it’s a special place in downtown Grand Island.

Cara Lemburg, executive director of the Railside Business Improvement District, said restaurants and boutiques bring the most amount of people to downtown Grand Island, so she’s hoping Kinkaider will add to that.

Prairie Pride Brewing Co. is on the neighboring block, but Schmick said being near another craft brewery will help both businesses. He said Kinkaider’s co-owners are good friends with the Prairie Pride owners.

Schmick said when people visit Kinkaider and find out that Prairie Pride is across the street, they’ll want to try those beers, too — and vice versa.

30 January, 2017