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BIG MOVEMENT: After $1 million in expansions earlier this year, Bryan Bevel is out at Springfield Brewing Co.
BIG MOVEMENT: After $1 million in expansions earlier this year, Bryan Bevel is out at Springfield Brewing Co.

Ownership change brewing at SBC

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A leadership change at Springfield Brewing Co. comes amid discussions to expand distribution.

Bryan Bevel, one of six investors who purchased SBC in 2011, confirmed he left his position as director of operations and managing partner.

“I did leave SBC this fall and my wife and I sold all our interest in Front Row Property LLC, the owner of SBC,” Bevel said via email to Springfield Business Journal. “I would not be comfortable commenting on the operation, and I think any comment on ownership or management changes should come from the current ownership or management.”

Bevel and Ashton Lewis, SBC brewmaster, gathered a group of fellow investors to form Front Row Property and buy the company for $3 million from Paul Mueller Co. (OTC: MUEL). Other investors were Rhett Smillie, a broker with Keller Williams Realty; Cam Collins of Malone Finkle Eckhardt & Collins Inc.; Christina Chanter, a property investor; and real estate agent John Schnoebelen, according to SBJ reporting.

Collins said of the initial six family groups that invested only three remain: himself, Chanter and Lewis.

“The other ones have left to do other things,” he said.

The current owners have not named a new operations director, and Collins said they may restructure both the brewery and the restaurant.

Collins said the company currently is seeking to expand distribution. Bevel played a key role this year when SBC underwent a $1 million expansion project to triple the company’s brewing capacity to 5,000 barrels annually.

“I can’t tell you which territories we are looking into,” Collins said, declining to discuss the time frame.

Lewis, Smillie, Chanter and Schnoebelen did not respond to attempts for additional comment. SBC General Manager Najem Agnew also could not be reached for comment.

An amendment to Front Row Property filed Sept. 20 with the Missouri secretary of state’s office indicates Smillie submitted a letter in late July informing the state of his exit. Bevel is the only other person listed in the filing.

Prior to its buyout, SBC operated as a restaurant, brewery and showcase for Mueller Co.’s stainless steel brewery tanks since it opened at 305 S. Market Ave. in 1997.


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