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The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery is putting its stamp on Mount Holly. The longtime Charlotte brewery held a groundbreaking for its planned facility there today.

It will be known as OMB Water Works at Mount Holly. The one-story, nearly 7,000-square-foot complex, complete with taproom and brau haus, is on Elm Avenue. The space will be open, light and bright. A half-acre biergarten — one of OMB's signature offerings — will overlook the Catawba River where Dutchman’s Creek joins.

"You'll have a beautiful view of the water. I think that setting will make it perfect," says OMB founder John Marrino.

Plans also call for an existing water tower to be moved to the site. It will be installed, lit and feature OMB's logo.

Permitting is close to being finalized. The goal is to open at the end of 2025.

OMB secured the land through an agreement with the city of Mount Holly. The city sought proposals to have a restaurant or brewery redevelop a 2.06-acre parcel. It is in walking distance to downtown as well as to the greenway. OMB was the winning bidder.

"We want to put (our locations ) in places where it's a short drive or walk from home," Marrino says.

As part of a deal with Mount Holly, OMB purchased the roughly 2-acre parcel at 725 Elm St. for $200,000. It has since demolished the former water-treatment plant on that site. It purchased another acre from Duke Energy for about $100,000.

Marrino says OMB will invest $4.4 million into the site per an agreement with the city. He declined to share estimated costs for the entire project. "It'll be more expensive than that," he added.

Edifice Construction is the general contractor. Redline Design is the architect. DPR was behind the site design, including landscape architecture and civil engineering.

The brewery also purchased another 6.4 acres in Mount Holly, with plans for future warehouse use. That cost $1.2 million.

That location marks the third for the brewery, following lower South End and Ballantyne.

“This is the strategy to be in the neighborhoods. Charlotte’s growing. It’s hard to travel back into the middle of the city at the end of the day,” says Jim Birch, chief operating officer.

OMB is also moving forward with plans for a Cornelius taproom, brau haus and biergarten. That project was announced in February 2017. OMB’s Cornelius project will coincide with Northwood Ravin's planned Greenway Gartens development that is on track to open in the second half of 2027.

"We're leaning in when everyone else is leaning out. I think that's the right strategy," Marrino says.

He notes he opened the original taproom in 2009, after the stock market crash. In 2012, at the bottom of the recession, he bought the lower South End facility,

Satellite locations will have a similar vibe to OMB’s flagship location in lower South End. OMB is know for its German-style beer. Its core brews rely on four main ingredients — water, malt, hops and yeast — tied to the traditional brewing methods, with a focus on quality and consistency. It is known for brews such as Copper Altbier, Captain Jack Pilsner, unFOURseen IPA and Hornets Nest Hefeweizen, and it has added a number of seasonal releases to its lineup.

OMB also hosts events such as Mecktoberfest and a Christmas Market with traditional Gluhwein — a spiced wine, 50 vendors and first pits.

Birch says the neighborhood strategy provides a chance to expose more people to its beers. In Ballantyne, the 14,000-square-foot taproom, brau haus and biergarten is an anchor at The Bowl at Ballantyne.

“Once you come into an OMB and you have a good time at the beer garden, we think that you're several times more likely to purchase a beer at your local bar or at the grocery store,” Birch says.

OMB is working to build its wholesale market, with an extensive focus on restaurants, bars, grocery and convenience stores for starters.

Marrino says wholesale business drives volume for the brewery. He anticipates OMB will brew approximately 20,000 barrels this year. It's seen demand of roughly 2,500 barrels in Ballantyne, less than six months after opening. That should more than double in 2025. Cornelius should provide another 1,500- to 2,000-barrel production boost.

He says the market will be difficult for craft brewers over the next five years. Inflation has crushed margins with the rising cost of labor and materials,

"You can only pass so much on to the customer," Marrino says. "The customer doesn't care about our price increases."

He expects breweries to close as lease renewals come about. Many will be at the mercy of their landlord — at the same time, they've made significant upgrades to their locations. That's why he's purchased his locations.

"You can't take that risk of not owning it forever," Marrino says.

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MT. HOLLY — A lot of people have lost their homes because of Helene. Now, dozens are being forced out of their townhomes in Mt. Holly because flood water soaked the first floor.

Residents were told it’s unsafe to live there and they have until tomorrow to get out or move all of their items to the second floor. The people we talked to say they don’t know where to go.

SPLASH OF WATER

A still soaked floor inside ‘ home.

“This is a nightmare,” Tamika Holmes said.

The water is a difficult reminder of the day Helene rushed into the home.

“My daughter was yelling, saying, mom, the water is coming inside,” said Holmes of the storm.

The parking lot at the Mt Holly complex looked more like a lake. Water nearly covered some cars. Two people were forced to use a kayak to get to their front door.

Holmes’ took her family to a hotel before it got to this point. Just a few doors down, Nelli Banuelos and her family stayed.

“We were scared. You know, we have nowhere else to go, and it was just frightening,” said Banuelos.

With the water seeping through her door and no power, the nursing student remained determined to not let the storm keep her from her studies.

“I was still studying upstairs with a candle, trying to get through nursing school,” explained Banuelos.

People living in the 28 At Mount Holly complex tell WCCB they were told by management on Tuesday they needed to either move all of their things to the second floor of the townhome while construction takes place or move out by Thursday so clean up can begin.

“It’s harder when you have to move right away. You know, it’s like we don’t know where to go or how to do this,” said Mimi Chok.

Stressed and helpless, residents scramble to find a place to live. Forced to dig deep into their pockets for all of the expenses that come along with moving and replacing what was lost.

“We did apply for the FEMA today, and so hopefully we get at least some assistance from somebody. Someone because we do need help. I have nowhere else to go,” explained Banuelos.

Macie Lambert is mourning the loss of a home filled with memories.

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MT HOLLY, N.C. — A Mt. Holly home by the Catawba River was nearly swallowed by the flood caused by Helene late last week.

"It was shoulder-deep in our house," said Macie Lambert, a teacher now working to put the pieces back together.

Lambert said the hurricane washed out the years of history that lived inside, with the beautiful memories now marked by the toughest stains.

"I have no words," she said. "My father and I were raised here."

Lambert said they went about knee-deep into their home, with everything floating around their homes.

"When we went to my daughter's nursery that’s when we just lost it," she said. "All her toys were just floating."

Lambert said while they managed to escape Helene, it cost them what was left behind: everything.

"We were up on our camper and we just sat and watched," she said.

Lambert works with children who have unique needs, offering them inspiration as they diligently learn. Now, her community is returning the favor as her school is taking donations for the family.

"People are reaching out that we don’t even know and that’s just the biggest thing," said Lambert.

Lambert said as they continue to push through these dark times, the community’s support helps them find beams of light. Their 1-year-old daughter depends on it.

"I cannot be more proud and blessed for the community that we have," she said.

Lambert said they did not have flood insurance and they’re not sure if they'll be able to salvage what's left. If you'd like to make a donation, click here.

Contact Tradesha Woodard at twoodard1@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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