When it came time to pick a construction partner, finding a firm that brought excellence in building breweries was a must. After all, there are more than fifty in the Charlotte area alone, and a construction crew behind every single brewery built. But there’s one firm that stood out in our search. Gais Construction had a hand in bringing many local breweries and restaurants into business, and we’re proud to say they’ve been involved with Lost Worlds from the beginning.

“Kevin and Michael’s experience building breweries and restaurants brought a lot to the process,” said Dave Hamme, co-founder of Lost Worlds Brewing. “We brought them in early during the design phase, to share their expertise and provide input well before construction began.”

Kevin Gais, Dave Hamme and Michael Gais on the site of the future Lost Worlds Brewing.

Brothers, Michael and Kevin Gais, followed in their father’s footsteps, who started Gais Construction in 1980. Starting off in both commercial and residential construction, they grew the family business steadily until 2008. After the residential downturn, they focused solely on commercial projects and have spent the last decade perfecting their product and building their brand. While the brothers each oversee their own portfolio of projects as general contractors, they still carry tools in their trucks, a nod to their deep roots in the business.

“Working with start-ups, which many in the brewing and restaurant business are, has been educational from the start, says Michael Gais. “We work with owners to save costs and deliver a quality product – passing along things we’ve learned over the years.”

Things like building in air compressors for washing kegs, water filtration and trench drains for easy cleaning to keep the brew house spotless. It’s these details right down to, how to get a 10-barrel brewing system into what’s often tight spaces. “Our goal is get Lost Worlds brewing beer as soon as possible,” says Kevin Gais.

Gais Construction is responsible for many of Charlotte’s hot spots to hang out. Sycamore Brewing was one of the first brewery construction projects more than 5 years ago, quickly followed by Wooden Robot’s initial building and expansions, as well as Good Road Cider Works, King Canary, Pour Tap Room, Mama Ricotta’s refresh, CorkBuzz, and the recently opened KiKi Bistro in Plaza Midwood.

“It’s so critical to have a trusting partner when you’re knee deep in building your business,” says Hamme. “The bricks and mortar are the foundation of our brand and every day it becomes closer to reality.”

Picking the Right Partners: Meet Gais Construction