Lake Norman brewery plans canceled as brothers cite unforeseen ‘setbacks.’
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- Two brothers canceled plans for Fruitful Roots Brewing in Cornelius, NC.
- Project faced multiple setbacks despite town approval in May 2024.
- Brothers plan to sell the Main Street property and unused brewery equipment.
Citing unforeseen setbacks, two brothers have pulled plans for a microbrewery in downtown Cornelius.
Cornelius resident Douglas Marion and his brother, Travis Marion of Indianapolis, Ind., received town approval in May 2024 for their Fruitful Roots Brewing Co. venture, town planning department documents show.
The brewery planned to locate on a vacant acre, formerly zoned residential, at 20219 N. Main St.
“After six years of trying to bring this to life, we’ve made the tough decision to walk away from commercializing Fruitful Roots Brewing,” the brothers said on Instagram.
“While there were glimmers of hope along the way, the road has been filled with setbacks we couldn’t have seen coming. We fought hard for this dream ... but at some point, reality has to win.”
Cornelius Today first reported the cancellation of the project.
Douglas Marion didn’t immediately return a phone message from CharlotteFive, seeking comment.
‘Lots of shiny stainless steel and sore muscles’
After the town approved their rezoning request, the brothers said they’d started architecture and site design plans two years earlier. On Instagram, they called the approval “a major milestone to celebrate” and said they would “continue to work closely with” the town on next steps.
A month later, they said they bought their “brewhouse, several tanks, and a ton of coordinating components. Lots of shiny stainless steel and sore muscles.”
They thanked “a collaborative Charlotte craft brewing community that helped connect us to this opportunity. Taking possession of and decommissioning this beautiful setup is a huge milestone for us, allowing us to write our own story in the near future.”
On Instagram on Monday, the Marions said they’ve entered into a contract to sell the property.
They plan to sell their brewery equipment, “which is practically new, having only been used once prior to us purchasing and storing it last summer,” they said.
“We’re disappointed, yes,” the brothers said. “But, we’re proud to have gained new friends in this journey. The craft beer industry is amazing, and we will continue to be passionate advocates.”