The long-vacant Kmart on Eastern Avenue is getting a high-spirited second act. Carbliss, the Plymouth-born ready-to-drink cocktail maker, announced Tuesday that it has purchased the empty big-box at 2615 Eastern Avenue and will redevelop the roughly 90,000-square-foot building into its new corporate headquarters and a public "pour/tap house." Plans call for product sampling, virtual manufacturing tours, a merchandise store and outdoor patio seating alongside flexible workplace space for employees. Construction planning is already underway, and the company says it expects to occupy the renovated site in 2027.
Company plans and partners
According to a press release via PR Newswire, Carbliss plans to tap Wisconsin's Idle Sites Redevelopment Program to help revive the long-idle property and has brought on Excel Engineering of Fond du Lac to handle initial renovation planning. Co-founder Adam Kroener called the purchase the company's largest hometown investment and said the project "represents much more than a new headquarters."
Downtown impact
Local coverage from WFRV Local 5 reports that Carbliss is pitching the site as a community destination meant to attract tourists and to drive more customers into nearby restaurants and shops by offering shared catering and event services. The company also plans product-sampling and innovation experiences intended to keep visitors in town longer. City planning documents have discussed redevelopment of the former Kmart for years, per the City of Plymouth.
Timeline and what's next
Construction planning is underway and, according to a press release via PR Newswire, Carbliss expects to occupy the renovated building in 2027. Its current 3,200-square-foot office at 818 E. Clifford Street will be available for lease after the move. Officials with Excel Engineering will oversee renovation plans, and the company says it will publish permitting updates and public event dates as work progresses.
Company growth and context
Carbliss was founded in 2019 by Adam and Amanda Kroener and has grown rapidly, earning national recognition and expanded distribution, according to reporting by NBC 26. The new headquarters is intended to support both corporate operations and visitor-facing activities that company leaders say will boost local business and tourism.
