Barrelhouse Brewing has finally found a home in Hanford.
The Hanford City Council voted to sell the old Kings County Courthouse to Esteem Land Company LLC, a partner of Barrelhouse Brewing, for $1.
The backstory: Barrelhouse Brewing has been trying to open up a location in Hanford for years.
- In the summer of 2019, the brewery was targeting the historic Bastille building in downtown Hanford after the property had been declared as surplus property by the city. But the two sides did not come to an agreement.
Driving the news: The Kings County Courthouse was built in 1869 and expanded in 1914 as the county grew, serving as the primary seat of the government until 1978.
- Most of the building is currently unoccupied because of the many repairs and ADA accessibility upgrades needed, which Hanford does not have the funding for.
- Hanford would need to replace the roof, upgrade the electrical equipment, repair sewer lines, replace the HVAC system, replace flooring and other upgrades in order to bring in tenants.
- An estimate last year revealed that $10 million in private investment would be required to rehabilitate the courthouse, but public costs due to prevailing wage and other regulations would result in the city spending far more.
The big picture: Two years ago Esteem Land Company sought a deal to take ownership of the building while ensuring that the city could preserve its historic integrity. The courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Terms of the deal require Barrelhouse Brewing to preserve and enhance the courthouse’s historic features and always identify the building as the County of Kings Courthouse.
- Hanford will retain the first right of refusal to purchase any portion of the property if Esteem Land Company moves to sell in the future.
- Kevin Nickell, co-owner of Esteem Land Company, said during Tuesday’s city council meeting that the company plans to open the brewery on the top floor and have the second floor open to other tenants.
What we’re watching: Esteem Land Company plans to work on major improvements to the courthouse all through next year and into 2026, with plans to open the building to tenants that year.
