HALLOWELL -- Geoff Houghton spends three days a week readying what he informally calls "The Liberal Cup South," a new brew pub/restaurant to be located in Saco Island.

The man who opened "The Liberal Cup Public House & Brewery" in Hallowell in November 2000 wants to expand his business to a second site to be known officially as "The Run of the Mill Public House & Brewery."

"I really want to capture the same market down there," Houghton said. "What I love about The Liberal Cup and what it really does well is attract everyone -- all ages and all professions, like a typical English pub."

At a site more than twice the size of the Hallowell location, Houghton plans to set up a business using equipment that formerly brewed beer for The Sugarloaf Brewing Company at the base of the ski mountain.

Houghton, who lives in Jefferson, is the managing partner in the new business. His business partners are attorney Severin Beliveau and developer Kevin Mattson, both of Hallowell. Mattson and Beliveau are with Island Point Development itself, which is redoing all of Saco Island, and have developed a number of other businesses under different development company names in central Maine.

The new venture will be the first commercial entity in Saco Island, a former factory site on the Saco River.

"We're very excited about it," said Saco Mayor Ron Michaud. "It will be a great asset and stimulate our downtown. We've been waiting a long time for this to happen and are very happy to have them coming here."

Michaud said the city agreed to create a tax-increment financing district to spur the development.

"The Liberal Cup has been so well-received in Kennebec Valley with our food, beer and atmosphere," Houghton said. "We're really hoping it translates well to southern Maine."

He intends to offer the same homemade food and home-brewed beer that have proven popular in Hallowell.

Houghton said the interior will have lots of wood and brick as well as 12-by-12 beams in the ceiling. This week, he said, a concrete floor was being poured to hold the weight of the brewing machinery. While the Water Street restaurant in Hallowell can seat 80 people, the new brew pub will seat almost 200 people and offer an outdoor patio that overlooks the rapids in the Saco River.

Saco City Administrator Rick Michaud (no relation to the mayor) said the brewery machinery will be inspected and licensed by federal authorities. He said it will be the first brewery in Saco.

Houghton said he hopes to open in late spring. Bill Kiely of Jefferson, a bartender at The Liberal Cup, has been tapped as general manager of the Saco brew pub.

He expects to employ 50 to 60 people at the Saco site.

Betty Adams -- 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com