Fans of Flathead Lake Brewing Co.’s Missoula pub have been shut out of the facility for nearly two weeks as the pub deals with damage done from a broken water line on the building’s second floor.  The leak caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage, but also gave FLBC of Missoula the opportunity to move forward on its efforts to take over the first floor space previously occupied by Sapore restaurant.

Sapore closed down when the leak occurred and will not reopen.  The restaurant definitely had its fans, but suffered from inconsistency in both food preparation and service.  Now, FLBC of Missoula will occupy the entire building.

FLBC plans to maintain the pub menu in the current pub space on the second floor, but will offer an expanded menu in the first floor space.  The area on the second floor that serves as office space at the front of the building (next to the bathrooms) will be converted to additional pub space.  The third floor banquet room will be upgraded to a swanky lounge-like area called the “Imperial Room.”

The remodel and expansion of the Missoula pub space marks another impressive move by the two year old brewery (since reopening in 2010).  In July, Flathead Lake Brewing Co. announced it had purchased a building in Big Fork that will house the brewery’s new brewing facility and restaurant and allow for a significant expansion in brewing capacity.