Beer tourism: Renewing Michigan’s downtowns

- Jul 18, 2012 10:17 am

Skift Take

That eternal question again: is spending money on food and drinks leading to economic development in cities?

— Rafat Ali

Michigan downtown development professionals learned about the power alcohol can play in creating a vibrant central business district…coffee shops are giving way to brew pubs, wine tasting rooms and small bistros throughout the state.

“Brew pubs are hot and the commerce is amazing,” said Brett VanderKamp, president of New Holland Brewing Co., which located in downtown Holland in 2002. “Beer tourism is huge. We love being downtown.”