Carbliss to redevelop former Kmart into headquarters

Heather Graves

Staff

July 13, 2026

PLYMOUTH – A long-empty Kmart that has sat dark since 2014 is about to get new life – not as a big-box store, but as the new corporate home and public-facing destination for one of Wisconsin’s fastest-growing beverage brands.

Carbliss has announced plans to transform the building at 2615 Eastern Ave. into its new headquarters and a community destination designed to support continued growth while revitalizing a prominent but underused commercial site.

Co-founder Adam Kroener said the project is the result of a multi-year idea that evolved alongside the company’s rapid expansion, as leadership weighed how and when to scale operations while remaining rooted in Plymouth.

“The team has outgrown the current corporate headquarters and requires expanding our space to accommodate our needs,” he said.

Kroener said he had been interested in the property for more than four years as part of a broader vision for revitalizing the area and exploring long-term redevelopment opportunities. 

Before Carbliss reached its current scale, he said he considered multiple potential uses for the site, but the company’s growth ultimately aligned with the need for a much larger headquarters.

“The new plans meet the needs of the business and also what the city desires in that space,” he said. “It allows us to stay local like we always have while investing in Plymouth, which has always supported us.”

Kroener said the roughly 90,000-square-foot building is large enough to accommodate the company’s expansion while keeping operations in Plymouth.

He said the size and location were key factors in the decision, even as the redevelopment of an older structure presents additional cost and infrastructure challenges.

“Due to the infrastructure and degradation of the building, financially it will be more expensive than what our office needs to be,” he said. “But for the community, the focus is on bringing this area back to life.”

Kroener said Carbliss is working with Wisconsin’s Idle Sites Redevelopment Program through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation on the project.

He said the associated grant represents less than 2% of the total project cost, emphasizing this effort is driven primarily by long-term business needs, hometown investment and community impact.

Kroener said the project reflects a balance between cost, location and community commitment.

“If cost were the sole driver, we would have built a brand-new facility 60-120 miles away from our headquarters,” he said. “In summary, this is the best thing for the community and Carbliss combined, not one more than the other.”

Site improvements, upgrades

Beyond redevelopment of the building itself, Kroener said the project includes major site improvements, including reconstruction of the deteriorating parking lot and upgrades intended to improve access and the overall visitor experience.

He said the site will serve as a flagship headquarters designed not only to support internal growth but also to create a public-facing destination that draws visitors to Plymouth.

“This project represents much more than a new headquarters,” he said. “We saw an opportunity to invest in a property that’s been part of Plymouth for decades and reimagine it into something that serves our team, our community and tourists alike.”

Since launching in 2019, Kroener said Carbliss has grown from a small start-up operating out of their home to a rapidly expanding beverage company.

From just six team members in its early days to roughly 25 employees today working out of its East Clifford Street office, Kroener said the company has continued to scale rapidly – even earning recognition as the No. 1 privately owned food and beverage company on the Inc. 5000 and being named one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For®. 

He said the company’s 3,200-square-foot office at 818 E. Clifford St. will be available for lease once Carbliss moves into its newly renovated headquarters in 2027. 

Dual-purpose vision 

Kroener said the new destination headquarters has been designed around two priorities:

• Creating an extraordinary workplace for team members and their families
• Establishing a destination that encourages people to spend more time in Plymouth 

Plans for the redeveloped site, he said, include a Carbliss Pour/Tap House, product sampling and innovation space, merchandise store, outdoor seating, flexible gathering areas and tours.

Though manufacturing will continue through co-manufacturing partners rather than on-site production, Kroener said the new space is designed to give visitors a closer look at the brand. 

He said people often ask to see where Carbliss is made, tour the current office or purchase merchandise, and the new facility will accommodate those requests along with product sampling and virtual manufacturing tours. 

Kroener said the concept is intended to create a “destination” experience that extends beyond office use.

“We hope this becomes a place people are excited to visit and something our community is proud to have,” he said.

Construction planning, Kroener said, is underway with Excel Engineering of Fond du Lac. 

“Why Excel?” he said. “They are local. We like to focus on local, either Sheboygan County or nearby. We have an appreciation for the thoughtful expansion Sargento has done, and they have done a lot of work with Excel.”

Kroener said additional details and timelines will be announced as the project progresses.