Reinventing dowrown - new micro-Brewery opening in Baroda, MI

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Baroda Village Council members get a look at an artist's drawing of the Round Barn's planned brewery Monday night.
The restaurant has run out room for its brewery business at its winery southeast of town. John Madill / H-P staff
Village welcomes Round Barn brewery with tax abatement
By WILLIAM F. AST III - H-P Staff Writer
Published: Tuesday, March 6, 2012 1:06 PM EST
BARODA - The Baroda Village Council on Monday welcomed the village's newest business - the
Round Barn's brewery at 9151 First St.
"This is wonderful news for Baroda," council President Bob Getz said, beaming.
"Did you bring any samples?" Trustee Steve Jasper inquired of owners Matthew Moersch and Chris
Moersch.
The opening not only brings in a new business but fills a vacant 10,000-square-foot building just
down the road from Village Hall.
http://m.heraldpalladium.com/articles/2012/03/06/local_news/8953018.prt 3/6/2012

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The council approved a 12-year, 50 percent property tax break on $264,815 in improvements that
the Moersch brothers are making to the old South Shore Tool & Die building. The tool and die
business had moved to larger quarters in Benton Township.
The brewery will open with two employees and will add at least six more within the next two years,
according to a fact sheet on the project from Shelly Klug, executive director of the Southwestern
Michigan Economic Growth Alliance. Matthew Moersch said the company hopes to start beer
production in July, and plans call for the opening of a brew pub and restaurant some time in 2013.
The Round Barn Winery, Distillery and Brewery on Hills Road, southeast of the village, started
releasing micro brewed beer about four years ago. They're running out of space for the brewery and
decided to move it to Baroda.
The Moersch brothers, interviewed outside the meeting, said they considered moving into the Arts
District in Benton Harbor. But it was more economical to move into Baroda, they said.
Besides, "We like the country," Matthew said.
Steve Carlisle of Wightman and Associates, the village's engineering firm, said the brewery should
not put any strain on the village's sewage system.
The brewery will likely generate no more than 300 to 400 gallons of wastewater a day, Carlisle said.
The village's sewage lagoon takes in about 65,000 gallons a day but has the capacity for 101,000
gallons, he added.
The brewery will have a waste pit that will be monitored and tested once a quarter, Carlisle said.
The Round Barn Winery, Distillery and Brewery opened 20 years ago. It is owned by Rick and
Sherrie Moersch, the parents of Matthew and Chris.
wast@TheH-P.com
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