Medford Brewing Company Hits Another Snag In Development

MEDFORD, MA — Medford Brewing Company is back to shopping for locations for its brewpub after its bid on a restaurant space was rejected. Co-founder Nick Bolitho wrote on Facebook Monday that the seller "chose not to accept our offer or even offer us a chance to counter."

In the comments of the post, the Bolitho expressed his frustration, saying the company was told to "proceed as if the offer had been accepted." The company is now looking for a vacant space in a high-traffic area that is zoned as a restaurant.

It's the latest bump in the road in the brewpub's development. Last month, Bolitho and co-founder Max Heinegg fought to get an amendment defining a brewpub added to the city's proposed brewery ordinance, which has been in development for more than a year.

The amendment passed 6-1, but Bolitho was visibly exasperated with what he considered to be a drawn-out process preventing the brewpub from opening. He hinted that the company may have to consider locations in another community "where we're actually allowed to operate."

If Medford Brewing Company's brewpub comes to fruition, it would be the city's first. The amendment to the proposed brewery ordinance affords brewpubs the rights of a restaurant, but allows it to brew beer on-site.

Heinegg and Bolitho have previously said they want to operate their business in Medford, something they reiterated Monday:

"This is extremely disappointing on may [sic] levels, but we haven't given up yet!"