The Vancouver Sun reported today that Molson Canada’s landmark brewery in Kits will be receiving a $32-million upgrade. Molson CEO Kevin Boyce announced that renovations will increase brewing and packaging capacity by 45 per cent, and turn 22 part-time jobs into full-time employment. About 184 people currently work at the Burrard Street brewery, one of only a handful located in the downtown core of a major North American city.
When asked in an interview why Molson doesn’t sell the 7.6 acre Kitsilano site for redevelopment and move the brewery to an industrial park, Boyce replied: “First of all we’re not a real estate company. It is a beautiful location. The reality is it is not inexpensive to build breweries, and to move it and replace it in its current configuration would be very expensive.”
While I’ve always appreciated the clock and tempatures updates atop the Molson building while driving home into Kitsilano, it seems like a shame that this prime piece of Burrard Flats real estate isn’t getting converted into a mix of commercial and residential real estate.
Last modified: June 2, 2008
It’s a shame because this place emits some pretty stinky odors when they’re brewing.
I don’t know, I live right by the brewery and there’s something comforting about it. The smell of beer in the morning, and the big sign? I’d be sad to see it go. In fact, I use their sign to tell me the temperature each morning.
Everyone else in that area has sold and condos are being build all-over. We don’t need more!
Agreed, there are enough condos to satisfy the real estate speculators. I like that smell, too — reminds me a little of bread, too, for obvious reasons.
I agree – we don’t need any more condo development in that area. Why don’t they open it up (the Brewery) to the public and have tours such as at the Heineken Brewery in Amsterdam? Or maybe Molson’s beer just doesn’t cut it? LOL
I do like the tour idea. Granville Island Brewery has been doing it for years. Of course, the GIB beer does taste better…
Love the clock..I grew up with it …screw the condos, Kits has been killed enough in the last 20 years.