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New Holland Brewing Co. and Rockford Construction are planning to announce a taproom project on Bridge Street NW between Broadway and Turner NW.

(Garret Ellison | MLive)

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI — After years of sniffing around downtown for a suitable location, New Holland Brewing Co. is finally coming to Grand Rapids.

Next week, the popular brewery plans to disclose its intention to build on land owned by Rockford Construction on the north side of Bridge Street NW between Broadway and Turner Avenues, according to sources familiar with the project.

Rockford Construction is readying for an announcement event on Oct. 7, during which specifics on the new multi-story taproom, said to feature rooftop seating, will be disclosed. Invites have been mailed to multiple West Side business owners.

Neither the brewery nor the construction firm, the largest general contractor in the city, were willing to confirm details of the project on Thursday, Oct. 2.

Rockford Construction, which built its new headquarters a few blocks away, has been buying up vacant or run-down properties on the West Side for several years with the intent of re-establishing Bridge Street as a gateway to downtown.

Those acquisitions have included the old Cini Mini II adult theater at 415 Bridge St. NW, Classic Lingerie and Video at 427 Bridge Street NW, and a former gas station that served as a gateway to the business district for decades.

Rockford purchased those properties a couple years ago from City Commissioner Walt Gutowski, who owns Swift Printing across the street.

It’s not immediately clear whether Rockford intends to demolish the two-story red brick building or integrate it into the project.

New Holland Brewing Co. has been eyeing a satellite location in downtown Grand Rapids for several years. Last July, company president Brett VanderKamp said the brewery was postponing its plans to sign on a new location until this year.

“We’ve felt for a long time that Grand Rapids is the perfect hub,” he said. “The community vibe in Grand Rapids is ripe for the craft beer culture.”

Down the street a few blocks, Harmony Brewing Co. is busy working on its West Side "Harmony Hall" brewpub in the former Little Mexico Café. Brewery co-owner Barry Van Dyke said he received an invite to Rockford's announcement.

“It’s been a rumor forever,” he said. “We’re excited to see whatever they come up with down there. It will definitely impact what we’re doing here.”

“Any development on the street is good for us.”

Garret Ellison covers business, government and breaking news for MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Email him at gellison@mlive.com or follow on Twitter & Instagram