In a move that local businessman Cody Sokolski called “carefully crafted” and “integral to success,” Destihl Restaurant & Brew Works, a local franchise of the restaurant/brewery chain has decided to keep its doors closed for at least another year. “We really like the way things have gone with the empty space. Utility costs are at a minimum and people are continually able to check out what the future holds for our space when they inevitably come to do their banking at the M2 building,” Sokolski commented. “If you haven’t seen the views from inside the place, well, I guess you haven’t yet, but trust me, they’re great without all of those potential customers getting in the way,” he added. “We’ve even had some practice time (The Delta Kings) in there.”
A new 15-person planning committee, which is headed by Sokolski is now busy working during three-hour lunches at the Blind Pig Brewery to come up with new solutions to continue to build the hype for Destihl. “We have some great ideas. Some of the best of them you may not get to see for awhile because I’ll probably keep those around for the next bank at M2 or for M3 but it’s going to be huge. The 5-year wait is going to be so good that we may just need to go for 10,” Sokolski added exuberantly. Blind Pig Brewery owner Chris Knight nodded in support of the rationale.
In addition to the low costs, extra storage and a great view of downtown (1 Main and the empty lot across Church Street decimated by fire over 2 years ago), the empty retail space slotted for Destihl has freed up storage for the three residents that inhabit the M2 building. “It’s a great thing,” said Chris Johnson, occupant of one of the one-bedroom condos of M2. “I considered getting a two-bedroom for office and storage space, but now I can just use the empty spots downstairs. It’s great how much space this town has created to store stuff, including the landfill that’s conveniently located right next to Boltini.”