Gainesville Planning and Appeals Board again approves micro-brewery

GAINESVILLE - Once again, the Left Nut Brewing Company has a green light from the Gainesville Planning and Appeals Board.

The company has opted to locate in a different facility -- this time in the Chicopee Mill area -- after negotiations fell through with the original property owner in Midtown.

Pap Datta, of Cumming, owns Left Nut, and he said the new location, which is a 21,000 square foot building that was once the administration building at the mill, will serve a way to revitalize the area.

"It's a beautiful place, (with) so much history. It's an interesting responsibility to be able to restore something of that historical value," said Datta.

The building was originally built in 1927, and sits at the intersection of Atlanta Highway and Chicopee Mill Road.

"It's probably the most diverse street with respect to ethnicity north of (I-285)," said Datta.

He said he hopes to the brewery will get a boost from local business in the area, and that in turn, Left Nut can help bring customers to the area as well.

"If we can promote, (it's) the bridge into Midtown," said Datta.

The facility should be ready to open in June.

"But if we can do it sooner, absolutely we will do so," said Datta.

The brewery will employ five to eight people when it opens, and can expand to as many as 22 in the future.

Datta says they'll debut with two beers: a blond ale and a double IPA, and then they'll add a pecan-based beer along with various seasonal brews throughout the years.

The approval will face two readings and public hearings before the Gainesville City Council can give final approval, which the council gave the last time around in October 2014.

Mayor Danny Dunagan cast the deciding vote in what became a 4-2 decision, with councilmen Bob Hamrick and George Wagemann casting the "no" votes, both citing concerns over the company's name.