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While attending law school in Southern California, Saratoga County native Christopher Martell discovered his love for home brewed beer and the brewpub culture. After earning his J.D. in 2003 and master’s in Law, he returned to the Capital Region to work as an attorney.
But in 2012, he and his brother, Brian Martell, had other ideas and took their home brew hobby and turned it into a successful business.
Seven years later Christopher Martell, CEO of Druthers Brewing Co. based on Broadway in Saratoga Springs, was named the recipient of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Syracuse District 2019 Small Business Person of the Year Award.
According to SBA Syracuse District Director Bernard J. Paprocki, Martell was nominated for the award by the New York Business Development Corp. (NYBDC), and selected for the honor based on criteria that includes: leadership, success, growth in sales and employees, and community contributions.
“Chris Martell’s entrepreneurial spirit and his achievements are what SBA looks for in a small business person of the year,” said Paprocki. “Chris has turned his passion for craft beer into an incredibly successful brewpub company thanks to his hard work and determination as well as the support of his family, friends, and community. This simple idea has grown into a thriving small business that contributes to our local economy through job creation and reinvestment back into the community.”
Although their startup status and lack of restaurant experience created a challenge in finding the right financing, SBA and NYBDC affiliate The 504 Company helped Druthers Brewing become a reality with a loan for construction and equipment at 381 Broadway.
Shortly after opening in 2012, Chris and Brian’s brother Scott joined the company to direct marketing operations and sales. Since opening over six years ago, Druthers handcrafted beer and food has been recognized as one of the Capital Region’s most popular restaurants. By 2017, Christopher was able to leave his career in law and dedicate himself fully to the business.
Druthers Brewery has grown into a family of brewpubs with popular locations added in Albany in 2015 and Schenectady in 2018. The 504 Company was able to provide SBA-backed financing for the Albany and Schenectady restaurant equipment as well as bottling equipment.
The bottling line at the Albany location has allowed Druthers to offer their line of beer at local retailers.
The company also executes a keg distribution strategy. Its beer can be found at nearly 180 bars and restaurants in the Capital Region, the company said. Druthers Brewing has grown from an original footprint of 3,500 square feet to occupying over 30,000 square feet in three cities. Over the past three years, the company’s revenues have increased to over $14 million and the number of employees has risen 30 percent to 240.
“Chris Martell is a shining example of an entrepreneur that has pulled a business up by its bootstraps using creativity, commitment and business savvy, said NYBDC Regional President James Conroy, who nominated Martell for his award.
“He is a recognized leader and a driving force in both the entrepreneurial and craft brewing communities. We are not only proud to further celebrate his accomplishments by nominating him for this award, but also for our role in providing the SBA financing that helped fuel this phenomenal growth that Druthers Brewing Company enjoys today.”
Martell was recognized at an event at the Albany Marriott on May 7 as part of SBA’s National Small Business Week celebration.