Ex Novo Brewing’s planned expansion to Hillsboro, Oregon in a shared multi-level food and drinks hub is not happening. The Portland, OR founded brewery with a second location in Beaverton and a third location with it’s own brewery in Coralles, New Mexico announced it’s part in a 17,000 sq. ft. redevelopment of a former US Bank Building that would also include Grand Central Bakery, Sizzle Pie, and The Sudra in January 2022.

“We are unfortunately not participating in that project anymore. The developers have done a great job with that project but it’s just a timing thing and we aren’t going to be able to pull it off. It’s not going to be Ex Novo out there unfortunately,” says Ex Novo Brewing founder Joel Gregory. Ex Novo is still regaining their footing from COVID-19 and the tragic and sudden loss of head brewer Ryan Buxton last May. 

Instead, Ex Novo is redirecting their efforts on an expansion to downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico near where Joel Gregory grew up, and now lives full-time. The second New Mexico location will transform the former Firestone tires building into a large 11k sq. ft. taproom, with a beer garden and full service all-ages restaurant on the ground floor, and a 21+ speakeasy-style cocktail lounge on the mezzanine with a deli/cafe concept. The brewing company is still working on finalizing the vision with Modulus Design, and expects to spend $4 million on the project before target opening in October.

“We had goals and there were certain delays with the project that was not in anyone’s control,” says Gregory of the Hillsboro project. “With the pandemic stuff we have emerged in a different spot then we thought we would be.”

However, the Hillsboro US Bank Building redevelopment is still going ahead as planned, just not with Ex Novo. The project was projected to cost $8.25 million in construction and is still on track to be finished by June 2023. Ex Novo is still involved in a way, because they hold the lease for the anchor pub space of the building that makes the European-style shared plaza space possible for food and drinks. Ex Novo has recently began the process of looking for a new tenant to take over their lease and it’s a prime opportunity for another brewery location.

The core shell of the building is almost complete, in a built-to-suit layout by the developer for a bar upstairs and downstairs, full restaurant, small event space and elevator to the roof top deck. There is approximately 5,760 sq. ft space for rent on the ground floor, plus approximately 2,920 rentable sq. ft. on an all-season roof top deck, served by an elevator providing Americans with Disabilities Act access. On the lower level is a shared European-style plaza space. A tenant who comes in will be responsible to do the finishes on their approximately 8,680 sq. ft. rentable space only.

Gregory says he still really believes in the project, but was just spread too thin to make it happen. “We’ve got a lot of time and energy invested in the space, we got it really far down the line and are really proud of what we got done,” he says. Adding that he really hopes an exciting new tenant will have a great opportunity as the redevelopment on this swath of downtown Hillsboro is just beginning.

The second phase of the project calls for a future mixed-use development on the adjacent parking lot, featuring approximately 60 apartment units. The redevelopment of 210 East Main Street will complement the Hillsboro Arts & Culture District with murals and artwork that enhance the quality of life and pedestrian experience for everyone. It will also benefit the surrounding areas in the Health & Education District and the greater Downtown as a whole, as well as nearby projects, such as the Merrill Gardens mixed-use senior living development and the future Block 67 mixed-use development.