honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, June 18, 2009

BUSINESS BRIEFS
Kona Brewing's suds rising fast


Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Outdoors retailer bankrupt
Bellevue, Wash.-based mall retailer Eddie Bauer Holdings Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection yesterday but said a bidder already has agreed to keep most of its 371 stores open, honor gift cards and hold on to most employees. Above is one of the retailer's stores in Seattle.

ELAINE THOMPSON | Associated Press

spacer spacer

Big Island-based Kona Brewing Co. has become the 14th biggest craft beer producer in the nation based on sales last year, up from 24th the prior year, according to the Brewers Association, a trade group for small and independent U.S. brewers.

Kona Brewing said a 51 percent increase in the volume of beer sold last year ranked it the fastest-growing company among the 50 largest craft brewers.

Much of Kona Brewing's growth was due to the expanding Mainland distribution, particularly on the East Coast where the company late last year began having the Redhook Ale Brewery in Portsmouth, N.H., brew its beer for regional distribution.

HONOLULU ECONOMY RATED 34TH BEST

Honolulu had the 34th-best economic performance of the 100 biggest U.S. cities during the first quarter, according to a study by the Brookings Institution.

Brookings' MetroMonitor found that Honolulu was among cities with strong military and government employment that did well in the current economy, having lower average job losses than the national average.

Honolulu did well when it came to unemployment (10th lowest), number of bank-owned homes (5th fewest) and employment gains (30th best).

THINKER TOYS SET IN WINDWARD MALL

Thinker Toys is set to open a store in Windward Mall July 1, the latest in a wave of additions at the mall.

Thinker Toys,will be on the upper level, Theatre Wing, next to Aéropostale, which opened in May.

Other recent additions include Fresh Inc Stationery, at Center Court, next to Tiki Tiki on the lower level; and Sindication, a clothing store on the upper level, Macy's Wing, next to Le's Nail Salon.