WATCH: Brewery expands flight plan in historic hangar

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) – After years of sitting empty, the historic Curtiss-Wright Hangar at Jim Hamilton-Owens Airport is getting a new resident.

“The Curtiss Wright Hangar has been a big challenge, because it was old and rusty and nasty, and nobody really wanted it,” Richland County Councilman Greg Pearce said. Pearce has overseen the deal since being elected to council 18 years ago. In that time, he’s seen many deals fall through. From a restaurant to an aviation museum, the money or timing has never worked out until now.

Columbia microbrewery pioneer Hunter-Gatherer is tapping-in to the challenge. Owner and brewer Kevin Varner said they’ll keep their location on Main Street, expanding brewing to the hangar, adding bottling, and growing from an output of 1,000 kegs a year to 10,000. It will enable them to grow statewide, and beyond. With the additional space, they’ll be a taproom, beer garden and kitchen.

Richland County did not make much money in the sale. They sold the land and building for its appraised value, $176,000 dollars.

The hangar was built between 1929 and 1930. It was commissioned by aviation pioneers Glenn Curtiss and Orville and Wilbur Wright. The men developed local airports across the nation in the 1920s. This was Columbia’s first airport. There are only a handful of these hangars left across the nation.

“Good things come to those who wait, and we waited a while, and I think we found what’s going to be a really good tenant,” Airport Director Chris Eversmann said.

The brewery will lease from Hangar Owners, LLC, headed by a local attorney who oversaw the restoration of 701 Whaley.

“I’m glad that we are at this point, but I’m really looking forward to opening up, and we’re gonna try to do it before the end of the year,” Varner said.