The Jamestown City Council approved a $350,000 loan to Wicked Jimmy’s LLC to take ownership of the former Jamestown Brewing Company. Members of the council are pictured on Monday. P-J photo by Eric Tichy

The Jamestown City Council has backed a loan that will help a Warren business reopen a dormant downtown brewery.

At 4% interest over 10 years, the loan will help Wicked Jimmy’s LLC take ownership of the former Jamestown Brewing Company on the corner of Washington and West Third streets in Jamestown.

Members of the Jamestown Local Development Corp. approved the $350,000 loan at their recent meeting; because the amount exceeded $100,000, the loan needed City Council approval.

Drew Erlandson told JLDC members that Wicked Warren’s has looked to expand its brewery and pizza shop to the Jamestown area. He said the Jamestown location will employ 15 workers in the kitchen and another 15 in the front of the house.

“We’ve done great in Warren,” said Erlandson, who will serve as head brewer in Jamestown. “We made it through COVID and staff coming and going when we first opened. … I see it going really well. We have such an eclectic menu of both food and beer that I think it’s really going to be great for the community. I’m super excited.”

Though a name hasn’t been decided, Erlandson said the brewery may take on the Wicked Warren’s moniker.

In January, the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency approved a 20-year loan for $950,000 toward the $2.25 million project.

Owner Robert Roth told county IDA members last month that his Warren location was tight on space.

“We’re always getting sold out there,” he said. “People are coming in the door but we don’t have any place to seat them. This complex, being almost 35,000 square feet, gives us plenty of options for seating and dining.”

Jamestown Brewing Co. did not last more than a year when it opened its doors in 2020. Its owners were beset by construction delays, the COVID-19 pandemic and eventually lawsuits before pulling the plug.

Erlandson said the plan is to get inside the brewery by late March or early April, obtain a liquor license in a couple of months and then start brewing. At the earliest, he hopes Wicked Warren’s will open its Jamestown location by late June or early July.

“Everything is functional. Everything is clean,” he said regarding the equipment’s condition. “Of course, we’ll blast it again when we get ready. But I was expecting the worst when I went in. … So, we’re off to a good start there.”

With the approval, the city will take a second lien position with the county IDA and Western Region Corp. behind bank financing.

In other news, the City Council:

— authorized Courtney Schauman, Corey Ellis, Jesus Garcia and Luke Ames to attend the state’s fire investigation course in Montour Falls, New York, from March 20 to April 14.

— approved a bid by S. Tabone Construction for street reconstruction at a cost of $114,200. Work will focus on Price Street, from North Main Street to Prendergast Avenue, and will be funded through the Community Development Block Grant program.

— approved moving the assessment grievance day to Monday, June 3.

— agreed to hire Drescher & Malecki LLP for audit services for the years of 2023 through 2025 at a cost of $105,495.