Hamm's Brewery Complex

Overview

Located in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood, the original Hamm's Brewery Complex is a 4.8-acre property that provides the opportunity for transformative development that adds jobs and housing while connecting the community to nearby businesses and amenities, such as Swede Hollow Park and the Bruce Vento Regional Trail.

Located just one mile from downtown Saint Paul and close to multiple transit lines, the site is perfectly positioned to take full advantage of Saint Paul’s growth while simultaneously reflecting and preserving an important piece of its history.

Updates

May 2024

JB Vang Partners and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Twin Cities release the Summary Report and Final Recommendations from the recent community feedback workshops.

Spring 2024

JB Vang Partners invited the community to participate in important conversations to guide the future redevelopment of the Hamm’s Brewery complex. The four workshops built on previous work by the community that identified 52 value statements, and provided recommendations to the developer, JB Vang Partners, and City of Saint Paul.

All workshops were held on Wednesdays from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at HOPE Community Academy (720 Payne Avenue).

• January 24, 2024: Workshop I - Gathering ideas for the Reuse of the Hamm's Brewery Complex
  • During this workshop, there was small group discussion on the following questions/themes:
    • What is important and unique about the Hamm’s Brewery complex site and surrounding area?
    • What types of commercial uses would improve/enhance the area?
    • What concerns for the area do you have as future development occurs?
    • Are there specific types of amenities that these sites could accommodate?
    • What additional information would you like to have to better address the commercial development opportunities for the Hamm's Brewery complex?
  • View the full meeting slide deck, just the slides from JB Vang, discussion responses, and feedback evaluation.
     
• February 7, 2024: Workshop II - Block Exercise: Explore Commercial Uses for the Hamm's Brewery Complex
  • This interactive workshop created scenarios for the commercial uses at the old Hamm’s Brewery site. Design experts were on hand to share ideas and insights.
  • View the workshop summary and feedback evaluation.
     
• February 21, 2024: Workshop III - Panel Discussion - Exploring Commercial Use Options
  • This workshop explored the opportunities and challenges of potential commercial uses with a panel of market and commercial development experts.
  • View the agenda, slides from JB Vang, slides from the City of Saint Paul, panel discussion notes and panelist bios, questionnaire responses, and feedback evaluation.
     
• March 13, 2024: Workshop IV - Create Final Recommendations
  • During this session, the community contributed to the creation of development recommendations for the redevelopment of the Hamm’s Brewery complex, which were submitted to JB Vang Partners and the City of Saint Paul.
  • View the final recommendations and feedback evaluation.

September 2023

The Hamm's project was awarded a $200,000 pre-development grant from the Metropolitan Council for architectural design, market/feasibility study, and soil testing.

January 2023

The Housing and Redevelopment Authority officially awarded tentative developer status to JB Vang Partners, Inc. on January 11, 2023.

December 2022

A selection committee comprised of staff from several City departments recommended JB Vang Partners, Inc. as the tentative developer for the original Hamm’s Brewery Complex following an extensive request for proposals (RFP) and review process. Read the press release.

Request for Proposal Details

The submission deadline has passed.

The HRA received five proposals, from teams led by:

• Clapp Investments, LLC
• The HOPE Program
• JB Vang Partners
• Kingdom Realty
• Trellis Co.

Pursuant to Minnesota Statute § 13.591, only the names of the proposers are public data at this time. All other data in a response to an RFP is not public until completion of the evaluation process.

Download the Request for Proposals (updated January 12, 2022)

Questions and Answers Document (Final - April 21, 2022)

Saint Paul’s redevelopment vision for an East Side anchor

Built upon the community engagement and recommendations from the 2004 Hamm’s Brewery Reuse Study and Vision Plan (Exhibit 1); the 2009 Dayton’s Bluff District Plan (Exhibit 2); the 2012 Near East Side Roadmap (Exhibit 3); the 2019 Swede Hollow Master Plan (Exhibit 4); and Saint Paul’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan (Exhibit 5), the HRA seeks development proposals that:

1. Rehabilitate and revitalize the site and historic brewery buildings, enhancing the vitality of the East Side of Saint Paul.
2. Maximize housing and/or jobs for the community.
3. Enhance neighborhood connectivity and access to nearby Swede Hollow Park, Bruce Vento Regional Trail and existing businesses within the Hamm’s Brewery Complex.
4. Have a viable financial plan and timeline, reflecting an experienced developer team.
5. Have a plan to engage and involve the surrounding community in the project.
6. Prioritize equitable outcomes in the development process and proposed uses.

Site overview

• Address: 680 and 694 Minnehaha Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55106
• 165,000+ in total existing building square footage
• 4.8-acre site
• Designated “Mixed-Use Opportunity Site” allowing for higher density, mixed-use development with potential for flexible rezoning
• Excellent location and access:
  • One mile from Downtown Saint Paul
  • Adjacent to Swede Hollow Park and the Bruce Vento Regional Trail
  • Near the Payne Avenue corridor in the historic Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood on the East Side
  • Downtown Saint Paul skyline views
  • Multiple nearby transit lines; 1/3 mile to a future Purple Line Bus Rapid Transit station
• Located in a Federal Opportunity Zone

History and Background

The Theodore Hamm Brewing Company was established in 1865 by German immigrant Theodore Hamm. The brewery grew through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, becoming an iconic East Side employer and influencing the development of the surrounding Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood. Hamm’s expanded to be the fifth largest brewery in the nation by the 1950s, with the Saint Paul location as its flagship.

In the latter half of the century, the brewery was sold multiple times before operating as Stroh’s from 1983 until the brewery’s closure in 1997. The oldest remaining brewery buildings south of Minnehaha Avenue sat vacant after the closure of the brewery. In 2004, the HRA acquired the southern portion of the brewery to protect and expand Swede Hollow Park as well as provide new jobs and housing opportunities on the East Side in a reinvigorated brewery complex.

To date, the HRA has completed the sale and redevelopment of three parcels within the Hamm’s Brewery Complex:

• 688 Minnehaha Ave., redeveloped as Saint Paul Brewing (formerly known as Flat Earth Brewing);
• 704 Minnehaha Ave., redeveloped as 11 Wells Distillery; and
• 700 Minnehaha Ave., previously redeveloped as an aquaponics operation (formerly Urban Organics). This property has recently been purchased by a private property owner.

Historical photos courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society and Ramsey County Historical Society.

Take a virtual tour of the site!