Anton Bergee and Jonny Artmann have purchased the former HDR Engineering building from the City of Thief River Falls. They purchased the building for $55,000 and plan to renovate it into a brewery.

by April Scheinoha
Reporter

A brewery may soon open in Thief River Falls. At a special meeting Tuesday, Oct. 22, the Thief River Falls City Council approved selling a city-owned building for the future site of a brewery.

Anton Bergee and Jonny Artmann bought the building that formerly housed HDR Engineering for $55,000. That building is located east of the Thief River Falls Fire Hall and also formerly served as the city’s water treatment plant. The purchase is contingent on the city reserving an easement for the River Walk and the Fire Hall training area. Bergee and Artmann will be responsible for asbestos removal at the site.

The sale came after the council met in closed session for about 22 minutes Oct. 22. A week earlier, the council had entertained an offer from Bergee and Artmann in a closed session. However, after reopening that council meeting, the council tabled the discussion.

In an interview with The Times, Bergee said they plan to gut the building that had been converted into office space years ago. They hope to open the brewery by October 2020. They plan to serve beer, soft drinks and local food at the site.

Brewing began as a hobby for the two of them. Bergee and Artmann plan to brew beer in the building with assistance from their respective wives, Melora and Nellie. Two to three additional employees may also work there.