The expansion of Maui Brewing Co. to Oahu has itself expanded, before its first location is even open.

Maui Brewing previously announced it would open a restaurant in the former Jimmy Buffett restaurant space in Waikiki. That restaurant is under construction and on track to open by the end of the year.

On Tuesday the craft brewer and restaurant company announced it will open a second Oahu restaurant in the Lau Hala Shops, in the former Macy’s building in Kailua.

Garrett Marrero, principal in Maui Brewing parent company Aumakua Holdings Inc., said the restaurant is the first to have confirmed its presence in the refurbished space, and the first to have signed a lease.

“Rather than have the rumor mill get started, we wanted to make sure we let the community know” that we are coming to Kailua, he said.

Work on the former Macy’s building is not done, so Marrero could only estimate the size of the restaurant, perhaps a little more than 6,000 square feet, with a possible staff of 60 to 80 people and a projected opening date between late 2017 and early 2018, he said, adding that “whatever I say today is guaranteed to be different tomorrow.”

The Kailua location will serve lunch and dinner “and potentially breakfast,” Marrero said. “Each location will be different,” with menus that vary slightly given available ingredients and each chef’s creativity.

Generally, though, “we are a traditional brewpub serving burgers, pizzas, salads and sandwiches, all done with local inspiration, local ingredients where possible,” he said.

“Everything we do is handcrafted,” Marrero said. “We do our own ketchup, mustard and salad dressings, even.”

Maui Brewing Co. locations offer 64-ounce growlers, or jugs of beer, to take home, as well as “crowlers,” which Marrero described as 32-ounce aluminum cans of beer which are “seamed on the bar,” or sealed for portability.