Wednesday marked a historic day in Buchanan, and not just because the city got its first ever tap house and brewery with the opening of Lehman’s Orchard Brewery and Farmhouse, 204 N. Red Bud Trail.

The momentous day was also marked by business owner Steve Lecklider’s ability to transform the brewery’s location — long a vacant eyesore —into a business that could become a hot spot for those across Michiana.

“It’s exciting,” Lecklider said. “Every day, we tried to do a few more things to get [the tap house] ready.”

Months of hard work and investment paid off.

More than 100 people visited the new tap house that evening to sample the products and check out the facility.

The tap house specializes in vintage and fruit beers. On the menu are a number of wine, spirts and craft brews — all of which are created from products found on Lecklider’s Niles’ farm, Lehman’s Orchard.

The bar currently offers 18 beers on tap, six of which are ciders. Among the brews available are IPAs, ryes, sours, reds, Kolschs, scotch ales, pilsners and stouts. Distillery products, such as a selection of brandies are also available.

The tap house also offers a number of farm to table menu items, from sandwiches and soups to pizza. Lecklider said he hired seven mostly part-time employees to help run the tap house.

The tap house is the second phase of Lecklider’s transformation of the building. In February, he opened a farmhouse at the location that sells the products found in the tap house, as well as a number of jams, jellies and apple butters.

Lecklider is a fourth-generation operator of Lehman’s Orchard, and was inspired to open a business that could utilize the farm’s products. Lecklider has a passion for creating something new and unique from the orchard’s fruit and said the menu is likely to appeal a range of tastes.

“I think that might differentiate us a little more from other breweries and make us more of a destination,” Lecklider said.

Prior to cutting a red ribbon for the grand opening ceremony, Randy Hendrixson, the executive director for the Buchanan Chamber of Commerce, offered a few words to the crowd.

“Today is a significant day in Buchanan’s history,” Hendrixson said. “[Lecklider] has completely re-purposed a building few would even recognize.”

The 12,000-square-foot building has sat vacant since 1993 and used to be the site of the Clark Testing Lab. The city later purchased the property and in 2006 devised a plan to have the facility house the fire and police departments and city hall.

But Bill Marx, the police chief and city manager, said they didn’t realize the investment needed to turn the place around.  A number of water leaks and a decrepit roof were only some of the damages that came with the property.   

“We are pleased that Steve found his way here and looked at it as a great opportunity for development,” Marx said.

Marx said he hopes the tap house will become a gateway to wine country and draw more people to experience Buchanan. On Wednesday, this was already the case.

Maureen Culp and her husband Vaughn and friends, Eileen and Rich Kochanny, all of Harbert, Michigan, do not visit Buchanan on a regular basis, but they said they might with the opening of the brewery.

The group started a Wednesday beer club that involves visiting a southwest Michigan brewery each week. When the friends heard that Lehman’s Orchard Brewery and Farmhouse was opening, they said they knew where this week’s craft brew destination would be. 

“I like it a lot,” said Maureen Culp, as she sipped a raspberry porter.

Sen. John Proos was also in attendance and recognized Lecklider’s accomplishment.

“This is so cool what they have done with this classic building,” Proos said.

In the months to come, Lecklider hopes to also offer more pizzas at the location and recently purchased an oven for the job.

Reflecting on his business’s progress, Lecklider said Buchanan helped to make it possible.

“Thank you to the city of Buchanan for all their support,” Lecklider said.

If you go:

Where: Lehman’s Orchard Brewery and Farmhouse, 204 N. Red Bud Trail

When: 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday

For more: facebook.com/pg/LehmansFarmHouse/