Whitmeyer’s Distilling Co. has entered a lease agreement with the Tomball Economic Development Corp. to expand its hand sanitizer production in Tomball, according to a TEDC news release.
The TEDC’s newly purchased land at South Live Oak Industrial Park is currently being used by Whitmeyer’s, however negotiations are still underway to make Tomball a permanent home for the distillery.
Whitmeyer’s is looking to increase production from 40,000 gallons of hand sanitizer per day to 1,000,000 gallons per month starting in June, the release states.
The distillery, which is based in the Spring and Klein area at 16711 Hollister St., Ste. I, Houston, switched from vodka, whiskey and gin to liquid hand sanitizer in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. The distillery has since distributed more than 100,000 gallons of its house-made hand sanitizer to the public for free, in addition to giving bulk donations to first responders.
Distillery co-owner Travis Whitmeyer said approximately 130 new jobs have already been created.
“We are excited to bring our hand sanitizer operations to Tomball and enthused about the prospects of having the full Whitmeyer’s operations here,” Whitmeyer said in a statement.
The expansion would include a 10,000-foot barrel house and a venue to host events, the release states.
Kelly Violette, executive director of the TEDC, said the timing was perfect for the deal, as Whitmeyer’s was looking to expand and the TEDC had recently acquired the property.
“Whitmeyer’s vision for this property is very much what envisioned for the South Live Oak Industrial Park when we purchased it last month. This is an exciting endeavor,” Violette said.
