Oregon brewery has plans for Treasure Valley brewpub — and hopes to get land for free

If all goes well in the world, Caldwell will be home to a bustling new brewpub next year.

On Monday, Oregon-based Side A Brewing won a request for proposal from the city of Caldwell’s urban renewal agency. If Side A is given the green light, it plans to redevelop 119 S. Kimball Ave. into a brewpub. Instead of an old Mr. C’s Carpet Center near Indian Creek Plaza, a hip, craft beer haven will beckon Canyon County residents.

It would be Caldwell’s second brewery: Eight Twelve Main held its grand opening Feb. 29 at 812 Main St.

Side A, which opened in La Grande in 2017, would re-create its business model in Idaho, co-owner Scott McConnell says. The footprint of 4,500 square feet would hold a restaurant, a small brewhouse and lots of patio space.

“For what we want to do ... it’s really a perfect spot,” McConnell said. “Our idea is a corner patio to kind of keep the corner really lively and social. It would be next to Rediscovered Books and Flying M Coffee Shop. They’re kitty-corner from this site.

“When we looked at other potential destinations, we just really liked the Boise area. And Caldwell is doing a lot in their downtown.”

There are no guarantees. A development agreement needs to be completed between Side A and the city, says Steve Fultz, Caldwell’s economic development director.

One of the incentives Side A wants is for Caldwell to demolish the existing building and gift the land.

Expanding to Caldwell isn’t necessarily contingent on a free site, says McConnell, who teaches economics at Eastern Washington University. “That’s part of the negotiation,” he said. “I’m not sure where we’re going to land on that.

“It would definitely make it more attractive, for sure,” he added with a laugh. “From everything I’ve heard from the agency, their intention is to get something happening on that property. But there’s a process and a formula and everything that they kind of have to work through on their monetary side. I don’t know if it will be free, but will be a reduced price or something.”

Judging from food and beer photos on Side A’s Instagram page, Caldwell residents might want to cross their fingers. Side A serves upscale pub grub, including towering, delicious-looking burgers and dirty fries. The brewery just won bronze at the Oregon Beer Awards for its Sammyville Stout.

“We like to think of coming to Side A as all about the entire experience,” McConnell said. “We really focus our energy on high-quality food — locally sourced — and we pride ourselves on high-flavor beer. We don’t cut any corners on the beer. And the service and the welcoming atmosphere is really a big part of what we do.”

During the coronavirus pandemic, Side A has remained open but scaled back in La Grande. “We’ve weathered this storm fairly well,” he said.

However, COVID-19 could slow Idaho plans down. Originally, the dream was to open the Caldwell location by mid-summer 2021 serving food, McConnell said, and have a brewing license by 2022.

If it takes a little longer, well, it takes a little longer.

“We’re really excited to have an opportunity to come there,” McConnell said. “When these things happen, you have to have a vision that is beyond the next year or two and really be thinking out how we could do things.”

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Correction: This story was updated to reflect that Side A Brewing would not be Caldwell’s first brewery.

This story was originally published April 17, 2020 at 5:00 AM.