Company Description – The Shawn & Ed Brewing Company is a craft brewery founded in 2016 by longtime friends Shawn Till and Edward Madronich. The bricks-and-mortar brewery is housed in a 160-year-old building in Dundas, Ontario, which has previously been home to a foundry, one of Canada’s first indoor skating and curling rinks, a bus depot, and various other enterprises. Since opening its doors, the location has become a focal point for the community, hosting food service, live performances, charitable events, and more than 250 events annually. The brewery is known for its quality lagers, which are sold through licensed establishments and retail outlets across Ontario. With approximately 35 employees, Shawn & Ed is an important contributor to the local economy and a destination for both residents and visitors.

Project Description – As taproom demand continued to grow, Shawn & Ed identified a need to expand its customer space while addressing the challenges of operating within its historic building, which became particularly hot during the summer months. The business added a 700-square-foot alleyway patio, creating outdoor seating for approximately 50 to 70 guests from April through October. The expansion also required additional point-of-sale (POS) hardware, tablets, terminals, Wi-Fi coverage, and a comprehensive security and surveillance system.

Through the Retail Modernization Project Grant, Shawn & Ed expanded its POS capabilities to support patio service and extended Wi-Fi coverage throughout the outdoor space. The brewery also installed a security and surveillance system covering customer areas, cash terminals, entrances and exits, and inventory locations. These upgrades have improved service capacity, strengthened operational security, and enabled staff to manage higher customer volumes more efficiently.

Project Impact – The patio provides a more comfortable setting for guests during the warmer months while increasing capacity for the brewery’s growing taproom and event programming. Together, these improvements support Shawn & Ed’s continued growth as a community-focused destination and strengthen its contribution to the local tourism, hospitality, and entertainment economy.