Yuengling a step closer to building new museum in former ice cream factory

Pottsville zoning officers gave their approval to D.G. Yuengling & Son in Pottsville to make renovations to its 40,000 square-foot vacant ice cream factory, across the street from its family owned beer brewery, to make tourism at the facility more accessible and convenient. The project still needs local and state approvals before it can begin.

The building will become a museum, gift shop, pre-treatment center for the brewery's waste water, and office and storage space. Also planned are a tasting room and an area for visitors to take virtual tours of the brewery.

"I believe anything that preserves the city's history is a good thing," said Donald Chescavage, code enforcement officer for Pottsville. "It's nice to see the building coming back."

According to Chescavage, the brewery already has a gift shop and museum, but they are not in close proximity in the brewery's old building, making it difficult for visitors to make their way around. The renovation plans to the vacant building will allow everything to be consolidated in one place and open up space in the brewery.

"It's going to be a lot easier for people coming to see the brewery," he said. "Everything will be in a nice and convenient location."

The 20th century building at the corner of Fifth and Mahantongo streets in the city has been vacant since the 80s, according to Chescavage, and consists of a sub-basement, full basement, first floor and second floor. The building was used to manufacture ice cream in 1920, during prohibition, when alcohol in America was banned.

(Yuengling's Ice Cream returned to store shelves this year in a venture not affiliated with the brewery. The ice cream is manufactured by Leiby's Dairy in Tamaqua.)

Chescavage said the renovation plans for the vacant building include a facility to be installed in the sub-basement to pre-treat the wastewater from the brewing process, which typically consists of excess hops. By treating the water, it will clean it better before releasing it into the public sewer, decreasing the burden on the city's water system.

Chescavage also said Yuengling has many items it cannot display in its existing museum because of lack of space. The new renovations will allow for a larger museum to display the items and also will provide additional storage space.

Next in the approval process, according to Chescavage, Yuengling will need to submit its formal architectural plans to the city for compliance, variance and code approvals. In addition, the pre-treatment facility will need to go through lengthy approvals and regulations with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Pottsville water and sewage authorities.

"There is still a lot more to go in the review process," Chescavage said.

Source: LVB.com