5Q: Mark Hellendrung

 / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
/ PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

1 What are a few of the advantages in the recent move from Providence to Pawtucket?

Providence was great to be right in the middle of everything, but it was really just an office. The move to Pawtucket means we’ve taken that leap toward building a brewery and fulfilling the promises that we made to Rhode Islanders. Plus, we are now a part of a really awesome project with The Guild.

2 Why was it important for you as a CEO to move the production of Narragansett Beer to Rhode Island?

Our brewing partner in New York is great, and we produce many award-winning beers there. But Narragansett is Rhode Island’s beer, and I’ve said from the beginning that we need to be brewing it here in Rhode Island to continue the journey that we started 10-plus years ago when I got Narragansett Beer back.  

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3 What are some of the changes that customers might see, if any, as a result of the location of operations?

The biggest change is that we’ll have a physical place where our fans can learn about our history, the beer-making process, and basically everything about Narragansett. We’ve had great conversations with beer drinkers over the last decade, but it was either in a bar or on social media. Now we’ll have a place of our own where we can expand on that conversation. We’ll have daily tours, occasional festivals and educational opportunities.

4 Why did you want to join in with other craft breweries in your new location?

Craft beer has really changed the national beer landscape. While the national behemoths engage in this game of consolidation, there’s a real spirit of collaboration and brotherhood among craft brewers. A collaborative brewery makes sense from a communal sense but it also makes financial sense: The more beer we make, the more viable the brewery is and the more jobs we create.

5 Will the company be expanding its workforce, and if so by how much?

The total campus will bring 40-plus new jobs on the brewery project itself, plus many others for other businesses in The Guild campus. •

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