The Lock Tender Bottle Shop & Tap Room has announced plans to open in Lockport at 4 Lock St. this month. The Lock Tender is a tap room and bottle shop located directly on the Erie Canal.

The space will feature indoor seating for around 100 patrons, as well as outdoor space for games and live music.

“The Lock Tender is our salute to the Canal Town Tavern and the Lock Tenders who toiled to operate the Flight of Five, located directly across the street from us,” co-owner Seth Piccirillo says.

Chuck Bell, the building owner, has transformed the property at 4 Lock St. from a long vacant eyesore into two storefronts with apartments above, showing off its original brick facade.

“Special things are already happening in Lockport, and we are excited to be a part of it,” Piccirillo says. “Lockport has many staple businesses in walking distance from us like Stooges, Steamworks, Lake Effect Ice Cream, The Palace and Scripts. Big Ditch’s new tap room is another signal that Lockport has real momentum and a place that people should check out soon.”

The Lock Tender plans to offer 10 taps of New York state craft beer, wine, cider and mead, both on tap and bottles and cans to go. They will also have a limited food menu featuring local produce and vendors, in partnership with Lockport’s Terroir General Store.

“Learning from our experiences and relationships through the Tap & Craft Festivals, we will feature the beers, wines and cider that make Upstate New York special, as well as special offerings from around the country and Canada,” he says. “Our goal is to deliver craft and comfort on the Erie Canal, becoming a place where guests can watch the Buffalo Bills with a Utica Club, or pick up a special release from a new brewery. Our limited food menu will feature local produce and vendors, in partnership with Terroir General Store, also located in Lockport.”

The grand opening will feature live music, a Save Me A Slice Pizza pop-up and more.

“Our July 12 opening is welcome to everyone to come have a drink, listen to some live music, enjoy a Save Me A Slice Pizza Pop-up and meet The Lock Tender,” Piccirillo says. “The Lock Tender is a place to enjoy a good drink, a unique snack and good company. We intentionally chose Lockport, and Niagara County, because it is a special community.”

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Brian Campbell is co-founder and Brand Manager of the Buffalo Beer League, and writes the weekly Buffalo Beer Buzz column. If you have beer news that should be included in the Beer Buzz, Brian can be reached at brian@buffalobeerleague.com, on Twitter (@buffbeerleague), Instagram (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).