Amsterdam to move in the fall

Iceman · Post by **Iceman** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 9:05 am

I just read this article that says Amsterdam will be moving to a larger location in the fall. Hopefully the bigger facility will give them opportunities to create more one offs.

http://whatsbrewingontario.wordpress.co ... -the-move/

JeffPorter · Post by **JeffPorter** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:29 am

Glad that this might give them greater capacity, but I have to admit from a convenience stand point, I like where they are as it's easy to get to them before zipping out of town.

Iceman · Post by **Iceman** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:36 am

I agree with you about the current location's convenience. Since my wife and I go to Chinatown fairly often, the current location is great for me.

saints_gambit · Post by **saints_gambit** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 6:13 pm

I know where they're moving to, but I don't know if I'm supposed to talk about it.

Suffice it to say I'm a little worried about what it will do to their walk-in sales. I mean, the additional space is a good thing, but just about any location would be a step down from where they were located in terms of ability to connect with a demographically young public.

The extra space should be good for an expanded barrel aging program.

MatttthewGeorge · Post by **MatttthewGeorge** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 7:18 pm

Representatives from Amsterdam have confirmed that the move has been in the works for a while and instigated by their desire to increase their capacity.

Not what I heard, which was that the lease could not be renewed due to condos going in. I also agree the new location isn't exactly walk-in friendly, however Great Lakes doesn't have the best of walk-in locations yet thrive, so I think (hope) Amsterdam should be ok.

Tapsucker · Post by **Tapsucker** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:33 pm

In all fairness, I have heard this is not a decision they made but one of being 'evicted'. It will not be a downtown location, which might be bad for the 'cycle to a six pack' crowd they have supported so well. On the other hand, they have been totally awesome when it comes to various forms of community support and I hope the new location creates even more opportunities.

Recently they have been cranking out beers that I really want to drink (thanks!) but for a long time I was buying their product just because they were a good bunch of people that deserved support. I am pleased to see these spirits can come together and I might finally be able to cycle over to pick up a six in my 'hood!

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 12:36 am

It was cool you could park there without any BS. I'll miss that.

And it's just so 'Toronto' that condos have to completely take over and make the harborfront even more crass and ugly.

andrewrg · Post by **andrewrg** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 9:20 am

I like Amsterdam, but that was not an attractive building.

Gedge · Post by **Gedge** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 9:46 am

Please move to the east end. Please move to the east end. Please move to the east end.

Iceman · Post by **Iceman** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 10:04 am

I'm hoping they move to the west end, but if it doesn't at least I have Great Lakes and Black Oak within 5 mins from my house.

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 2:29 pm

Iceman wrote:I'm hoping they move to the west end, but if it doesn't at least I have Great Lakes and Black Oak within 5 mins from my house.

Plus Cool is out that way too - keep us posted on this exciting brewery.

JeffPorter · Post by **JeffPorter** » Wed Aug 01, 2012 9:44 pm

Brampton!!!!

saints_gambit · Post by **saints_gambit** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 2:16 am

I checked with the folks at the brewery and they said I can confirm that they are moving to Leaside.

It's going to be sort of on Laird just north of the Millwood rail bridge, according to Iain McOustra.

They'll have additional space for new products and, according to Blake Van Delft, who is their PR person, the new brewery will have a higher total output.

I don't know whether it will work out demographically in the way that they want. I grew up about three blocks from there, so I have an idea of the area. A lot of their sales are sort of walk in or bike in currently. Leaside is pretty toney, and the population are sort of 30-40 somethines with young children with a smattering of elderly folks. It's nowhere near as population dense as the location they're in now. Thorncliffe is the next nearest neighbourhood, and it is sort of a neighbourhood that new immigrants tend to settle in. There's some population density, but I don't know how it will play, since it's a relatively low income neighbourhood because these are folks who are just getting on their feet. You've also got East York, which might be really good for them.

I may play with breaking the demographic numbers down on the blog at some point.

We'll see what happens. They may have to look at revamping their lineup a little bit to take advantage of local tastes. Maybe people will go over there to pick stuff up. It's a bit of a slog to get there by transit. Basically the Leaside 56 from Eglinton or Donlands and the Leaside 88 from St. Clair.

There's an upside. If you go there, you can also go to Olde Yorke Fish and Chips, which is pretty bitchin'.

TheSevenDuffs · Post by **TheSevenDuffs** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 8:47 am

At first glace, from my point of view, I don't like the location at all. I hope it works out for them though..

Raisy · Post by **Raisy** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 8:54 am

Damn it! I was hoping they were moving to Windsor.