Lansing brewery eyes expansion, new music stage

Salt Point Brewing Company, a linchpin of Lansing’s nightlife, is seeking to expand.

Owner and founder Chris Hesse detailed plans to the town’s planning board during its May 20 meeting, regarding potential additions to the brewery at 6 Louise Bement Ln. Hesse said that ownership is thinking of establishing a permanent events pavilion to host musical acts on a regular basis, as well as add new beer cooler space to the brewery. 

The proposal to expand was reviewed by members of the planning board at the meeting. Ultimately, Hesse and board members tentatively scheduled a potential public hearing for the board’s June meeting. This timeline is contingent on meetings between company ownership and town officials to further iron out details about the company’s plans. 

The full discussion can be viewed here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfsKawu9eto.

“I am here partially to clean up some details on the site plan,” Hesse said. 

He noted that the original application to build the current Salt Point location from 2021 included the potential for a pavilion stage expansion, but as the site plan review process with the planning board progressed, talks of the pavilion faded. Ultimately, Hesse added, the potential for a stage did not make it onto the final resolution for the site plan that the planning board approved years back. 

“If you look back at the old minutes, there was a lot of discussion about having music outside and the pavilion was going to be used as a stage, kind of how it happens at Myers Park now,” Hesse said. “We have started doing outside music on a temporary stage, and some questions arose as to whether that was allowed. My request [today] was to bring that back up and get that added to the resolution so that there are no issues in the future.”

Hesse noted that ownership is still looking at which area on the site would be best to install a permanent stage. Currently, Salt Point hosts live musical acts on Wednesdays with some regularity.

“We have been playing around with the temporary stage in different locations, trying to figure out how close, how far to set it up and have some flexibility,” he added.

Planning Board Chair Al Fiorille said he was concerned about having a music venue that could potentially be open past 10 p.m. Hesse said concerts at Salt Point end at 9 p.m. and will continue to do so, even with a permanent stage.

“That will not be an issue,” Hesse added.

Fiorille also noted that he was concerned about potential spillover cars parked outside the brewery due to increased demand during music nights.

“We only do music on Wednesdays, which is a slower night,” Hesse said. “I don’t think the music is what’s affecting street parking. There ends up being more people on the street on a Friday than on Wednesday. That is what we have learned over the past three years. On Fridays,  people come in their own cars; other days, people carpool.”

Lighting from concert performances could be a concern for the planning board. Hesse said the stage would have outlets for artists to use their own lights. 

“We would need specifics on the lighting for approval,” Fiorille said. 

Part of the expansion would also include space for a walk-in cooler. 

“Cooler space for breweries is in high demand,” Hesse said. “We have another walk-in cooler space that we are hoping to actually develop this year. That is one of the more urgent projects.” The cooler would be 6 feet by 8 feet, which Hesse noted would be smaller than the existing space used for cooling.

Lansing at Large appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com. Contact Eddie Velazquez at edvel37@gmail.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @ezvelazquez.

In brief: 

The Lansing Community Library will host “Food at Home: Tips to Keep You Healthy & Make Smart Decisions,” a discussion about how food safety plays a big role in people’s lives.

The discussion will cover thoughts on product expiration dates, what to do with a product that is about to expire and what a food label intends to tell you. Additionally, presenter Amalia Gonzalez Beary, a doctoral student in food science and microbiology at Cornell University, will discuss the importance of making sure we make good choices that keep us healthy.

The conversation is set for June 12 at 7 p.m. in the library’s community room. Interested parties can RSVP at scowder@lansinglibrary.org.

Gonzalez Beary holds a master’s degree in food quality and a bachelor’s degree in nutrition. With more than 10 years of experience, she has worked in food safety and quality management within the food service and airline catering industries.