Village Closes Tasting Room At Popular Northport Brewery

Northport Village officials have temporarily closed the tasting room of Sand City Brewing Co., pictured inJune 2017, citing several code violations and complaints from residents. Long Islander News photo/archives

By Janee Law
jlaw@longislandergroup.com

The Northport Village Zoning Board of Appeals, citing complaints over noise and overcrowding, voted Feb. 15 to temporarily close the tasting room of popular village hangout, Sand City Brewing Co.

The board voted, 4-0, in favor of the closure. Board member Janet Pushee was not present.

The 60 Main St. brewery and tasting room has been a popular village attraction since it first opened in 2015.

With the popularity have come complaints.

Northport Village Police Chief Bill Ricca said the department has received seven different complaints of noise or disturbances since Sand City first opened. Still, he called the business a huge asset to the village.

“I think having them in town is really a good thing but everybody has to get on the same page,” he said.

Village Administrator Tim Brojer has also reported similar, independent complaints.

Brojer, who could not be reached for comment before deadline Wednesday, states in a village document that he received complaints about the brewery at a pace of “probably about twice a month.”

The document also says Brojer reported “people hanging out on the decks and smoking,” and also both food and alcohol being consumed by patrons and employees on the deck area.

Provisions established when Sand City was first given approval to open state that patrons are not to gather on the deck, nor consume food or alcohol there.

The deck is located outside the front entrance of the brewery, which features both a tasting room and on-site brewing operation.

The tasting room was first closed in September 2017, with plans for construction on the walkway that leads to the brewery’s entrance. The intention was to reopen after repairs — and the tasting room did reopen briefly in November 2017 — but village officials have since stepped in.

A statement posted to Sand City’s Instagram page on Wednesday states that owners Bill Kiernan and Kevin Sihler will continue to keep the public updated on the situation. They’re slated to go back before the zoning board during a March 28 compliance hearing that will be open to the public.

“No doubt, like you, we wish this was otherwise and are hopeful for some change,” the statement reads, adding that the owners are hopeful the upcoming hearing will yield a “remedy to this condition.”

At least up until the hearing, the brewery’s tasting room will remain closed, but the space itself can still be used for brewing and sales.