Committee approves developer negotiations for proposed West Wolf River beer garden

The New London Economic Development Committee on July 30 directed the city administrator to begin negotiating a developer’s agreement with business owner Kim Jonas for a proposed beer garden and event space on a downtown lot near the Wolf River.

Jonas, owner of Events Everlasting, presented a concept that would place the beer garden on the south portion of a lot near the Wolf River and reserve the north portion for food trucks and events. She said the venue would emphasize Wisconsin craft beers, offer mocktails and snacks rather than a full kitchen, and use seasonal heated domes to support year-round activity. Typical hours discussed were Wednesday through Sunday, roughly 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., with event-based exceptions.

Committee members questioned site boundaries, parking and the relationship between private development and adjacent city-owned lots (numbers 203 and 205 were cited as remaining city property). Staff and members discussed how a developer's agreement would document expectations, timelines and contingencies, including coordination with nearby residential projects. The committee agreed negotiating a developer’s agreement would protect the city’s interests by spelling out maintenance responsibilities, timelines and any conditions before final land sale or approvals.

The committee passed the motion to direct the city administrator to negotiate the developer’s agreement by voice vote; the Chair indicated the motion passed. Any final developer’s agreement and land sale would require subsequent council approval.

Jonas said she plans to pursue property purchase and hopes to open in 2025, aiming to integrate the beer garden into broader placemaking efforts for downtown.