Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamon Sellman.
Hi Jamon, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
When I relocated to this community, I found that I was naturally drawn to rehabilitation of these beautiful historic buildings. As I learned about what it takes to re-energize a sleepy downtown, and seeing other towns that have done the same, I decided this was something I wanted to take on. My goal with the Loft projects, improving retail and food service spaces, and Urbana brewing Co is to reinvent this downtown… to make it into a desirable destination as it once was.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of course, not ha! My background in construction was in Engineered Wood Products. I was involved in 90% new construction. I’ve learned (the hard way) that Historic Rehab has almost NO correlation with new construction. The saying is, “Make you budget, make your schedule… then double both”. So far, we are holding true to that. Window complications, old structural items we had to repair, brick damage etc. have made this project very time-consuming. As much as it’s been painful, it has also been rewarding. Seeing the reactions of people that have passed by these old uglier buildings in the downtown and now seeing them come back to life has been most rewarding. The Urbana community as a whole has been a tremendous cheerleader.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business?
As a major anchor piece of the redevelopment, the Brewery is a major focal point for the community. We hope to open in October. This will serve as a major communal space for people to relax and enjoy one another. We plan to be family, and dog friendly (with some rules of course). We will have a rooftop deck with a fire pit, skylights looking down into the brewery, gaming, and more. We plan to have entertainers, musicians, etc. throughout the year to make for some unique entertainment experiences. We will have a limited food menu, Pizza, open sandwiches, chicken wings, etc. To drink we will have 12 delicious micro-brewed on-site beers, ciders, mixed drinks, wine, etc.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Build it, and they will come.
Contact Info:
- Website: urbanabrewingco.com
