Once the renovation and expansion are complete in mid-2009, the building at 2000 Lyons Ave., just north of the CBD, will provide about three times more space than Saint Arnold's existing 32,000-sf operation at 2522 Fairway Park Dr. in the northwest submarket. "When we first met with them at their current location, they were literally out of room and had nowhere to grow," says John Wall, associate with Houston-based Situs Cos.

Wall, Situs chairman Martin Bronstein and vice president Maury Bronstein were charged with helping Saint Arnold find a new headquarters that could include manufacturing and distribution operations, brewery tours and a room to rent out for parties and other occasions. Wall tells GlobeSt.com that Brock Wagner, Saint Arnold's founder, examined close to 100 properties in the metro and considered options from leasing to build to suit.

"Brock had a vision and a plan for the brewery and he wanted to be as close to Downtown as possible, without paying the prices," Wall says. Good highway access also was important because Saint Arnold distributes its beer to stores and bars throughout Texas.

Maury Bronstein adds Saint Arnold has great visibility and a central distribution point from its just-bought two-acre site at Interstate 10 and US Hwy. 50. "This is right in the center of town, close to Houston, which is still its major market," he stresses.

The building also is near the 50-acre Hardy Yards project, a mixed-use, urban development that's in the planning stages. "When we found out the building was being put up for bid, we realized it would be a good opportunity to capitalize on a major development in Houston," Wall says.