Pictured is the former Beer Snob at 318 Washington St., Jamestown. The craft beer establishment permanently closed its doors earlier this month. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

New development for a recently closed downtown Jamestown business may be brewing.

Elliot Raimondo, corporation counsel, told members of the city Planning Commission this week that there was a “very interested party” for the now-shuttered Beer Snob, 318 Washington St.

Raimondo said he recently met with the interested group, which he mused “wishes to remain anonymous” at this time.

Earlier this month, it was announced that the Beer Snob was permanently closing its doors. Located at the former Vikings Lodge in the city’s downtown corridor, the craft beer establishment had opened in November 2018.

Discussion of the potential development took place as the city Planning Commission met for the first time this year.

Chairman Mike Laurin and Greg Lindquist, a new member on the commission, asked for general updates to any ongoing or future projects within the city.

Ellen Shadle, city planner within the Department of Development, said she typically hears about new development right before the projects are presented or if a question arises that requires immediate attention.

“The pipeline doesn’t get very full, so there probably is something in a pipeline someplace, but I won’t know about it until I get an inquiry,” Shadle said.

The city planner was asked about two specific projects by the Planning Commission — a new Tim Horton’s location and a new Northwest Bank branch. Both will be located in Brooklyn Square.

Regarding Tim Horton’s, which already has received site plan approval, Shadle said she wasn’t sure where the project stood at present.

Blake Tarana, who owns numerous Tim Horton’s locations in the area, told the Planning Commission last year he expected construction at the former Jimmy’s Restaurant site to begin this spring. Once open, Tarana said the current coffee shop across the street in Brooklyn Square will be closed.

Shadle did confirm that city staff had preliminary talks with Northwest Bank officials about constructing a new branch at 7 S. Main St. The project will include the demolition of a Chinese restaurant that closed its doors this year.

“Either nothing is happening on their end behind the scenes or everything is and then I’ll get an inquiry that they need a permit … that their plan is ready to go,” she said.

Shawn Walker, executive vice president of communications and regional marketing at Northwest, previously confirmed the bank’s plan to open a new branch.

“We’re very invested in Jamestown and very invested in the community,” Walker told The Post-Journal. “We felt it was time to put in a state-of-the-art branch with all of our business partners in a brand new facility.”

Walker said it typically takes anywhere from six to nine months to construct a new branch once approvals and permits at the local level are obtained.