Enfield Planning Board OKs microbrewery for former laundromat

By LIZ SAUCHELLI

Valley News Staff Writer

Published: 07-29-2024 5:00 PM

ENFIELD — The Planning Board unanimously approved a proposal for a downtown microbrewery.

The approval means that Hoptimystic Brewing, owned by Dan and Kelly Thomas, can operate in the former laundromat building located at 59 Main St. in Enfield, owned by Brian Degnan.

After being connected to Dan Thomas by town officials, Degnan thought the brewery would be a good fit for the space, which abuts the Northern Rail Trail that sees significant use in the summer.

Degnan will continue to own the building; Hoptimystic will rent the space.

“It’ll be a good use for the building,” Planning Board Chairman David Fracht said toward the end of the meeting, after the hearing ended. “I think it’s going to spur some good activity in the downtown Main Street area.”

Board members had a few questions regarding parking, lighting, trash and snow removal, and the frequency of deliveries.

“We’re not getting frequent deliveries,” Dan Thomas said during the hearing, adding that trucks deliver four to six pallets of supplies per month. “We try to buy bulk so our shipping costs are efficient.”

Degnan has owned the building, a former railroad depot, since 2017 and operated it as a laundromat until a dryer fire around a year and half later forced him to shut it down.

Article continues after...

Yesterday's Most Read Articles

He considered reopening it as a laundromat, but he said increasing water and sewer rates, and other costs made it economically unviable. At the hearing, Degnan reiterated that he’d been looking for a business to occupy the space for “quite some time.”

The roughly 2,100-square-foot building constructed in 1907 needs some work done on it before the brewery can move in, Degnan said during the meeting.

“I hope we get on this as soon as possible,” he said.

Thomas said that the goal is to open by May 1, 2025. “Ideally, we want to be open for the summer,” he said.

The tentative hours of operation are 3 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, noon to 8 p.m. Saturdays, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

In addition to brewing beer onsite and having tastings, Hoptimystic plans to offer prepared food in collaboration with area restaurants.

Degnan said there are plans to put outdoor seating, but that will be determined by the state as the brewery obtains a license.

Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.