This Brunswick County brewery never opened. And now it's for sale.

Brunswick County’s brewery scene continues to evolve. In the past couple of years, five such businesses have opened, including three in Leland and Solar Brewing Company in Oak Island. And at least two are in the works with Bald Head Island Brewing Company and Southport’s Cape Side Brewing.

But the future is more uncertain for another Southport-area brewery. Carolina Crab Brewing Company, and its facility on 14 acres of Long Beach Road, is for sale for $3.5 million.

The brewery was in planning since at least 2021. A group of partners and owners, including real estate developer Frank Marchetti, completed construction in 2023 for a standalone building with a deck, outdoor seating, space for food trucks and a lot with 28 parking spots on site near Surf Cinema and Hampton Inn in Southport.

More: New business offers Brunswick County friends a way to bring a wine experience to Shallotte

Plans for the business started to falter, though, when partners and staff had to leave the project. While there was some interest on the part of Marchetti in continuing, he also wanted to relax and retire, said Marguerite Greene with Century 21 Collective and one of the agents for the sale.

“But his vision is still a really cool idea,” she said. And it’s essentially ready for someone who wants to get it up and running. The business name, equipment, inventory, furniture, fixtures, and beer recipes would all be included in the sale.

And, yes, there has been some interest, she said.

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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Brunswick County brewery facility, Carolina Crab Brewing, is for sale