Business, consumer and economic tidbits from DNT reporter Candace Renalls. Click here to view previous posts or additional resources.

Beer biz next to new children's museum would sell

If Developer Alex Giuliani wants it, he can have it.

As a press conference was underway this afternoon at the site of the future home of the Duluth Children’s Museum along I-35 near 29th Avenue West, Brian Michaud watched on.

Michaud owns Michaud Distributing Company next door. As one-by-one the former industrial hub anchord by Clyde Iron Works is redeveloped, the sprawling distribution center will be left, an awkward presence between the Duluth Sports Heritage Center and the new Duluth Children's Museum.

The company -- which distributes beer and other beverages out of the sprawling building -- has been a family business for 73 years, 21 years at its current site on Helm Street.

Michaud supports plans to turn the old Duluth Brewing & Malting building next door into a modern, vibrant new home for the children's museum. His building was once used for storage by that brewery.

"It'll be a great opportunity for the kids, especially with everything for youth grouped together," he said of the Duluth Sports Heritage Center, Boys & Girls Club and the future Duluth Children's Museum.

On top of that, Clyde Park -- with its restaurant, pub and events center -- has opened behind it and a hotel is planned.

Michaud's willing to sell, to make way for more positive change.

"I hope someone would purchase our building so we could move out of the building." said MIchaud who would likely relocate his business to West Duluth or Superior.

He said Giuliani has talked to him about selling. It was Giuliani, Clyde Park's developer, who sold the old brewery building to the children's museum.

"He would buy us," Michaud said. "The museum is also interested."

He speculated the museum could use it for storage or parking. But, he acknowledged, the museum has its hands full right now, trying to raise $4.8 million to renovate the old brick brewery built in 1915.

Tags: daily updates, duluth childrens museum, michaud distributing, biz, alex, giuliani