GAYLORD — A prominent local business might eventually be resurrected, although there is no specific timeline yet in place for its reopening.
The former site of Big Buck Brewery & Steakhouse, 550 S. Wisconsin Ave., has new owners and, based on discussion at a recent Gaylord City Council meeting, they are likely to resume operations in a similar fashion at the former Northern Michigan mainstay.
At their meeting last week, council members approved an application requesting a liquor license for the site. City Manager Joe Duff said the license requested is identical to the type of license Big Buck Brewery had before. According to the application, it’s classified as a micro brewer, small wine maker and small distiller license.
“They’re looking to make renovations and also take over brewing operations at that location,” Duff said.
Vehicles and activity have also been spotted at the building.
The license will allow them to bottle their beer, as well as sell it on-premise, as well as giving them other qualifications.
During the meeting, members brought up that originally, Big Buck could not do both of those things, and could either serve their beer on-site or bottle it to be served elsewhere. However, that law changed while Big Buck was in operation, Duff said.
Big Buck Brewery’s flagship store in Gaylord shuttered its doors for good early 2017, after first opening in 1995.
Over the years, the brewery opened satellite locations in Auburn Hills, Grand Rapids and Grapevine, Texas, a suburb of Dallas.
