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Lewiston Landmark
Home to New Micro- Brewer
The Bates Mill complex comprises
1.2 million square feet distributed among a dozen
buildings, and is the dominant feature in downtown
Lewiston, Maine. As recently as the 1960s, the
textile manufacturer was the largest single
employer in the state.
Covering nearly six acres, the unoccupied
site became the critical component in the
city's master plan to revitalize its downtown. In
August 2009, ten years after the renewal plan was
adopted, Luke Livingston walked into the Maine
SBDC office in neighboring Auburn with the dream
of brewing beer in the old
mill.
Livingston grew up
in the Lewiston/Auburn area and after going away
to college, returned committed to being part of
the city's revitalization. According to Maine
SBDC counselor, Greg Gould, with the Androscoggin
Valley Council of Governments, "Luke  had a
good business plan, but no money... he needed
$450,000 to get the project off the ground. We
were in the midst of a deep economic downturn, in
a region already struggling - quite a challenge
for a start-up"!
Gould and Livingston were not
daunted. The two began working on the business and
financial plans, cautiously tinkering and crafting
a package that would make the Baxter Brewing
Company, based in downtown Lewiston, Maine, an
attractive investment proposition.
The plan called
for a launch with two types of beer: Stowaway IPA,
a heavily-hopped, West coast-style India Pale Ale
unlike any other available in Maine, and Pamola
Xtra Pale Ale, an easy-drinking, "session" beer,
perfect for a day on the golf course or the
beach.
The
vast expanse and open spaces of the mill were the
ideal location, but without the financial backing,
Livingston's dream would remain just
that.
Branding concepts and a strategic plan gave
the company further viability. Bates Mill in the
meantime attracted several large tenants --
factors which helped move Lewiston's
revitalization plan forward andappealed to the
micro-brewer's investor.
The plan began to come together with
the first injection of $200,000 equity investment
and a $440,000 loan from a silent partner. Then,
Maine Bank & Trust advanced Livingston a
$250,000 line of credit. "A year ago this was only
a dream", says Livingston, "then all the pieces
began to come together..." When asked what he
would do differently, Livingston replied, "I'd
contact Greg much sooner."
Baxter Brewing Company will be the
first craft brewer in New England to can its
entire line of beers. Plans are to have
kegs and cans available across the state by the
end of November.
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