In Focus

Downtown Hamilton has proven itself to be a successful small business environment

Starting up may be the first part of building a business, but support from the community is the strongest foundation. Since the mid-20th century, industry in Hamilton has evolved to reflect the changing needs of its community, as well as trends in the region. Downtown Hamilton, whose industrial landscape was once defined by paper production and machinery, is home today to a growing network of thriving small businesses, including LemonGrenade and Municipal Brew Works. MUNICIPAL BREW WORKS

Municipal Brew Works has thrived in Hamilton for more than five years by following three key principles: make great beer, establish strong community roots, and educate people about great beer.

When you step inside the Municipal Brew Works taproom in the former City of Hamilton Municipal Building at 20 High Street, it becomes evident that all three principles must act in harmony for Municipal Brew Works to succeed.

Municipal Brew Works is owned and managed by a team of five individuals: Sean Willingham, Mark Jackson, Aaron Holtz, Dave Frey, and Jim Goodman. Jim, the CEO, Founder, Assistant Brewer, and Cicerone (“A Cicerone is to beer what a sommelier is to wine”), had lived in Hamilton for only a year when he began home-brewing beer in 1996. He immediately fell in love with the process and became affectionately known as “the biggest beer nerd” his friends and family know.

Today, Municipal Brew Works operates as a 15-barrel brewhouse that has produced 30 different styles of beer and counting. Since its inception,

Municipal Brew Works has won twenty-three (23) State, National, and International medals in twelve (12) beer styles for the beer it has brewed in Hamilton. Approachable Blonde, an American blonde ale, and the brewery’s flagship beer, has medaled in silver and gold.

When Jim completed his initial walk-through of the municipal building in March 2014, he knew the location was special.

“The true history of this building is amazing,” Jim exclaimed. “People come in with stories. Some of the firemen, some used to come to the building to pay their utility bills.”

Municipal Brew Works is located in what was the Station #2 Fire Department. The office is in the fireman’s bunkhouse and the former kitchen is the brewery’s laboratory. The brewery’s freezer was formerly a detective’s office and the mill room used to be the City vault.

The renovated building today hearkens and pays homage to generations of Hamilton’s civil servants. Municipal Brew Works maintains a strong connection to Hamilton’s first responders by displaying historical news stories, framed photos, firefighting gear, and more in their taproom. Each year, Municipal Brew Works taps and sells “Woltermelon Blonde,” an ale that honors the memory of fallen firefighter Patrick Wolterman and helps raise funds for Companions on a Journey Grief Support in West Chester.

Weekly events in the taproom include Singo (bingo set to music instead of numbers), Euchre tournaments, trivia night, and live music performances. Every summer for the last four years, Municipal Brew Works has hosted the annual Ales for Tails fundraiser, an event for the Animal Friends Humane Society to showcase adoptable shelter animals, provide discounted microchipping, and judge pet talent contests.

It’s evident the communal atmosphere at Municipal Brew Works sets them apart from their competitors, but the rules of engagement changed for all bars and restaurants in 2020. At the height of the pandemic, DORA and customer loyalty were crucial for Municipal Brew Works to stay in business when most bars and restaurants had no choice but to pause operations.

“Even though distribution went to zero, we were able to keep everyone on payroll,” Jim explained.

Although the taproom was closed off to customers, Municipal Brew Works could still manufacture and remain open for carryout orders. But most of the carryout customers didn’t travel too far.

“Marriott’s parking lot looked like a tailgate,” Jim mused. “DORA was a job-saver.”

One of Jim’s favorite memories from the last year was hosting the 2021 Little League Baseball World Series Championship watch party in August. Although the game did not result in a win for the Hamilton West Side Little League team, the watch party was the most joyous crowd Jim had ever seen at the taproom.

“There are great young people in Hamilton,” Jim said, referring to the Hamilton West Little League team. “And when the City gets behind something, it’s a very cool thing.”

Jim looks forward to serving more customers, and more libations when Municipal Brew Works’ second taproom opens in Spooky Nook Champion Mill. With a brand-new taproom and production facility, the Municipal Brew Works will be afforded “endless inspiration” for creating specialty flavors and names to coincide with events going on at the sports complex.

The opening of Spooky Nook Champion Mill will bring increased tourism traffic to Hamilton, which Jim thinks is exciting for all local businesses, and is a great time for

young entrepreneurs to follow their own passions.

“This is a great place to do it. Become a member of the community and people will back you all day.”

LEMONGRENADE

LemonGrenade Creative has created design work you likely see all the time around Hamilton without even knowing it. From branded logos to restaurant menus, and beer labels to cover artwork for this very publication, Thommy Long and studio staff at LemonGrenade have helped to change the aesthetic of the community for more than seven years.

Before launching LemonGrenade in 2014, Thommy served as art director for a design firm in Cincinnati while also instructing students at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, the same art school where he graduated years prior with a degree in Communication Art. Working for a design firm for more than ten years helped Thommy realize that he wanted to go out on his own. Today, Thommy is owner, president, and creative director of LemonGrenade, but he also sees himself as a head coach for the design studio staff.

“I come up with the plays, the big pictures,” Thommy explained. “And they run with it.”

The LemonGrenade lineup is very close-knit now, but he sees the team growing over the next few years.

“I see us growing, adding more services like video production and sales. There’s a need for sales and office support.”

As for the geographic location of LemonGrenade, choosing Hamilton was a no-brainer. LemonGrenade has always been headquartered within the Robinson-Schwenn Building on High Street.

“There’s nothing like the vibe in Hamilton. Big things are happening here. Everyone [in the community] wants everyone to succeed.”

Since its launch seven years ago, LemonGrenade has experienced continuous growth in work volume and experience. But Thommy contends their successes are largely attributed to purposeful staffing and a community-based network.

“I’ve been told you should hire people better than you are,” Thommy said. “I love working with a great team.”

Thommy believes being involved in the community has endeared LemonGrenade to Hamilton residents and businesses. When the pandemic began to pose extreme challenges for neighboring businesses in 2020, Thommy saw an opportunity for LemonGrenade to help. He developed the Free Lemonade program, with the design team donating hundreds of hours and free marketing services to 80 companies.

“We just wanted to keep moving, keep designing,” Thommy said.

LemonGrenade’s efforts to ensure success for the community did not go unnoticed. As a result of the positive impact Free Lemonade had on the community, Thommy was honored as the 2020 Small Business Person of the Year.

This honor is likely one of the reasons why LemonGrenade doesn’t have to advertise to get the attention of prospective clients. Thommy confirms that nearly all LemonGrenade clients have been word-of-mouth referrals. “This year, hands-down has been the busiest and best year,” Thommy said.

While many of LemonGrenade’s clients can’t be publicized or disclosed for legal purposes, there is one that Thommy is happy to talk about.

“We were very aggressive in getting the Spooky Nook account,” Thommy exclaimed. Since landing the Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill account two years ago, the LemonGrenade team has been gearing up for the grand opening. ❑