John McDonald is the founder of Boulevard Brewery, currently the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest. In 1988 John purchased a turn-of-the-century brick building on Kansas City’s historic Southwest Boulevard and installed a vintage Bavarian brewhouse. The company has been headquartered and brewing beer there ever since, and in 2006 expanded with the construction of a state-of-the art facility next door. John lives in the historic West Side neighborhood and is currently working on several preservation projects in the East Bottoms, including the old Heim Bottle Shop.
Q: Why do you consider yourself a preservationist?
A: I don’t like waste. I think we need to keep the buildings we have.