Empire State Development Announces Grand Opening of Bent Beam Brewing in Canton

New $2.34M Craft Brewpub Revitalizes Property in the Downtown Main Street Corridor

See pictures of Bent Beam Brewing here

Empire State Development today announced the grand opening of Bent Beam Brewing, located at 41 West Main Street in the Village of Canton. Supported by $610,000 in state Restore NY and Regional Council Capital Fund grant funding, the $2.34 million project transformed a long-vacant property into a brewpub that features fresh craft beer and live entertainment and creates a vibrant new social hub in St. Lawrence County. See pictures here.

"By breathing fresh life into a strategic downtown corner, Bent Beam Brewing shows how targeted state investments can spur local commerce," said Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight. "This project gives Canton a welcoming place to gather while strengthening the economic fabric of St. Lawrence County."

"We are excited to share our passion for craft brewing with our community," said Bent Beam Brewing Head Brewer Joe Erlichman. "Breweries are vital hubs that foster social connections and local community events. We strive for Bent Beam to be an inclusive gathering space where people can relax, connect, and enjoy artisanal, small batch craft beer."

Originally planning to utilize the historic former McCarthy's Furniture Barn, the investor group-which includes St. Lawrence University professor emeritus and Head Brewer Joseph Erlichman-faced structural challenges that required a total demolition and rebuild on the site. Today, the brand-new, 3,360-square-foot facility features indoor seating for 64 guests alongside two outdoor patios for additional patrons.

Situated within walking distance of the downtown core and two local colleges, Bent Beam Brewing is primed to serve students, residents, and visitors alike. Guests can sample taproom pours featuring a diverse core lineup-including a Mexican lager, hazelnut brown ale, fruited sour beer, and IPAs-alongside rotating experimental brews and seasonal selections. For more information, including current hours of operation, visit bentbeambrewing.com/.

The project aligns with the North Country Regional Economic Development Council's strategic plan to create livable, attractive, and connected communities where people want to live, work, visit, and invest.

Bent Beam Brewing also secured approximately $1 million in local and regional low-interest financing packaged by the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency and the Development Authority of the North Country, as well as a $22,165 grant from National Grid's Brownfield Redevelopment Assistance Program.

Bent Beam Brewing also complements ongoing downtown revitalization efforts, including projects funded partially through the New York State Department of State's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program to improve public access and recreational use along the Grasse River and a NY Forward grant to fund five transformational projects aimed at redeveloping vacant spaces, upgrading public infrastructure, and boosting small businesses within its downtown target area.

The Restore New York Communities Initiative ("Restore NY") provides municipalities with financial assistance for the revitalization of commercial and residential properties. The program encourages community development and neighborhood growth through the elimination and redevelopment of blighted structures.

North Country Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chairs James McKenna and Dr. Kathryn Morris said, "Bent Beam Brewing is a wonderful example of how targeted regional investments can turn an underutilized property into a thriving community anchor. By creating an attractive, walkable gathering spot near our local colleges and downtown core, this project directly advances our strategic vision to build vibrant, connected North Country communities where people want to live, work, and visit."

St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency CEO Patrick J. Kelly said, "We commend the owner-investors of Bent Beam Brewing for the vision, investment, and persistence that made this project possible, congratulate the Canton Economic Development Office for its efforts, and once again thank our partners at Empire State Development for helping make another St. Lawrence County project a reality."

Development Authority of the North Country Executive Director Carl Farone, Jr, said, "The Development Authority of the North Country is proud to have partnered with regional economic development organizations to support Bent Beam Brewing and help bring this exciting project to fruition. This new facility is a prime example of what can be achieved when strategic investments align with a vision to revitalize underutilized properties. The brewery will be a valuable asset to the Village of Canton and St. Lawrence County, attracting visitors, strengthening the local economy, and creating new employment opportunities."

National Grid Director of Economic Development Katie Newcombe said, "National Grid's economic development programs are designed to help communities turn challenging sites into productive assets that support local growth. Our Brownfield Redevelopment Assistance Program grant helped advance the Bent Beam Brewing project by supporting the redevelopment work needed to transform a long-vacant downtown property into a new destination for residents, students and visitors. Projects like this strengthen Main Street corridors, attract private investment and contribute to the long-term vitality of communities across upstate New York."

St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ben Dixon said, "Bent Beam Brewing demonstrates how strategic investment and local entrepreneurship can transform vacant properties into vibrant community assets. Businesses like this strengthen our economy, enhance quality of life, and create new reasons for people to live, visit, and invest in St. Lawrence County. We are proud to welcome Bent Beam Brewing to our business community and look forward to supporting its success."

Village of Canton Mayor Michael E. Dalton said, "The Village of Canton is excited to welcome Bent Beam Brewing to our community. This project was inspired by Joe Erlichman and his passion for brewing, but it is truly a local effort by others in the Canton Community. Many contributed to this effort to bring craft brewing to Canton and we wish them all great success. Finally, the partnership with NYS, specifically The Restore New York Communities Initiative, administered by Empire State Development, truly made this happen. We thank NYS for its efforts in our local economic development."

St. Lawrence County Legislator Anthony Levato said, "Bent Beam Brewing is an outstanding addition to the Village of Canton. Their beautiful new building has quickly become a destination, and the quality of their product has already earned them well deserved recognition and success. This investment from the Bent Beam team will generate lasting benefits for our local economy and support tourism. I applaud these local entrepreneurs for their efforts to bring something new to our community. I also want to extend my sincere thanks to Empire State Development for recognizing the potential of this project and helping make it a reality. Cheers to Bent Beam Brewing, and I can't wait to watch their continued success!"

About Empire State Development
Empire State Development is New York's chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state's 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state's world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X.

Contact:

Laura Magee (ESD) | [email protected] | 716-846-8239 | (800) 260-7313

Mark Brackett (Bent Beam Brewing) | [email protected] | 315-854-5563