Diamond Bear Brewery, located in North Little Rock, is currently up for auction and will be sold in October unless owner Russ Melton receives a suitable offer before then. The property, which includes a 15,435 square-foot brewery, will be auctioned by Blackmon Auctions and Thomas Blackmon Realty on Friday, October 25th at 9 a.m.
Melton, who is 67 and looking to retire, has outlined four possible outcomes for the brewery following the sale. These include the new owner buying the property and leasing it back to Diamond Bear, having the brewery stay for a few months before moving elsewhere, purchasing both the property and the brewery, or having the equipment and assets liquidated.
Diamond Bear Brewery was established in 2000 by Russ and Sue Melton in a former car dealership in Little Rock. It quickly became a leader in the craft beer scene in Central Arkansas. Despite initial doubts from loan officers about the success of a brewery in Arkansas, Melton was able to demonstrate the potential for growth based on the limited number of breweries in the state at that time.
The brewery later moved to its current location near Dickey-Stephens Park in 2014, expanding its facilities and adding a restaurant. In 2023, Melton partnered with Bart Likes to transform the restaurant into Ol’ Bart Southern Eats.
The auction of Diamond Bear Brewery presents a unique opportunity for an investor to acquire a well-established craft brewery with a loyal following and a significant presence in the Arkansas beer market.
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Photo credit arktimes.com
