This time next year you’ll be able to catch a game at Big League Dreams and then walk over to the Loma Brewery to partake of their selections on an outdoor patio.
Work has started on the site — a large grassy area along Daniels Street west of the Milo Candini Drive intersection.
When it is completed, it will be the third entity to locate in the city’s 100-plus acre family entertainment zone that is book-ended by Great Wolf and BLD.
The brewing company is considered a natural fit for the BLD sports complex that has weeknight games as well as weekend tournaments that attract participants and spectators from throughout Northern California.
It also dovetails into Great Wolf’s marketing strategy that relies on other nearby entertainment and dining options to help spur repeat business.
Retired Major League Baseball player Kevin Youkilis submitted plans to build a brew pub in January 2022.
Youkilis and Manteca in 2021 entered into a 55-year land lease agreement to allow him to establish a flagship operation for Loma Brewing Company in Manteca on the site of the city-owned BLD complex along Daniels Street on the northwest corner of Milo Candini Drive.
However, issues concerning the financing prompted a shift from leasing a 36,500 square foot parcel that included space for parking to outright purchase of a smaller parcel.
The parking needs are being addressed by leasing 32 spaces that are part of the city’s BLD complex.
The intention is to have a brewery capable of an annual 1,000 barrel production. It will have a larger brewing capacity than his Los Gatos location.
It will feature a 10,500-square-foot brewing facility, a 2,300-square-foot tap room, and a covered patio to serve as a seating lounge with televisions. It likely will include a whiffle ball field to keep with the BLD theme.
Youkilis previously indicated his goal is to have his craft beers on tap at as many local restaurants as possible. He also may expand into store sales with the Manteca brewery serving as his distribution center.
Loma’s business proforma for the original lease agreement — based in part on its successful Los Gatos operation — in 2022 projected $3,099,200 in yearly sales in the initial years.
That translates into $255,684 in sales tax of which $30,992 will go the municipal general fund to help pay for day-to-day municipal operations such as police and fire services.
The city would also collect $15,450 in public safety tax to help pay for frontline police officers and firefighters.
When the parking lot lease is factored in, the brewery will generate $62,000 for the city’s general fund in its initial full year in operation.
That is in addition to the $320,000 the city will realize from the sale of the property.
Loma Brewery anticipated in 2022 hiring 46 people in the initial year. Staffing would increase to 68 by the fifth year.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
