Clearwater may be getting a new microbrewery. According to documents filed with the state, a company named Fat Lion Brewing applied for an environmental resource permit from the Southwest Florida Water Management District in August.
According to that application the company “proposes a craft brewery with tasting room at a former furniture factory. The would-be brewery would renovate three buildings to make room for the establishment and demolish another for parking.
Fat Lion was established in September of last year by Leo Govoni, a former Republican House candidate and founder of the investment advisory firm Boston Asset Management, which is based in Clearwater.
Fat Lion purchased what used to be Southern Comfort Furniture for $1.5 million this March. According to a flier highlighting the property, it’s a nearly 50,000 square-foot facility with another nearly 3,000 square feet of office and production space located on 2.23 acres of land along 49th Street North.
While the property’s address is listed in Clearwater, it is actually near the St. Petersburg/Clearwater airport on land not typically considered a part of the Clearwater area.
In addition to filing for permits with SWFMD, Fat Lion also filed a trademark application last year and purchased the website domain name fatlionbrewery.com this summer.
It’s unclear whether Govoni will run the brewery or he’s putting affairs in order on behalf of a client. It’s also unclear when the brewery could open.
Govoni’s association with the process may raise eyebrows for active Democrats and progressives. Govoni and Boston Asset have contributed money to American Crossroads, an ultraconservative PAC run by Karl Rove.
