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What’s brewing on the river?

Construction on RiverTrail Beerworks starting now, completion estimated in fall of next year

Ben Miller, a site supervisor and project manager for Phinney Design Group, installs a wind screen on a fence around the former Amusement and Vending building on Woodruff Street, the future site of the RiverTrail Beerworks brewery, on Friday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

SARANAC LAKE — Construction on the RiverTrail Beerworks brewery, a new location for the Lake Placid Pub and Brewery on Woodruff Street on the Saranac River, is starting now, with brewery co-owner Christopher Ericson predicting an opening of the business next fall.

Ben Miller, a site supervisor and project manager for Phinney Design Group, said demolition of the former Amusement and Vending building is expected to start next week, and he expects to break ground on the new building at that site in January. Ormsby Trucking and Excavating will be doing the demolition.

Ericson said the construction will be able to continue a little during the winter and then start in full in the spring.

Ormsby Trucking and Excavating demolished the house next door to the brewery two weeks ago.

In demolition they are trying to reuse as much material as possible.

“I’m beyond excited,” Ericson said.

The design phase lasted longer than expected, he said, but that’s given them time to make more progress for planning the building.

Miller said he’s excited about it, too.

Ericson said he and his wife and brewery co-owner, Catherine, have looked at opening a location in Saranac Lake for several years. When this property came up, they thought it was the perfect location — right alongside the Saranac Lake River Walk and close to the state’s rail-trail.

Ericson said on Friday that the project is being funded entirely through his business.

(Correction: This story was changed to reflect the correct name of the company — Ormsby Trucking and Excavating — that will be demolishing the former Amusement and Vending building — and has already demolished the house next door — on Woodruff Street at the future site of the RiverTrail Beerworks brewery. The Enterprise regrets the error.)

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