alcohol in the news; After delays, brewpub ready to begin work in Champaign

From the News Gazette

After delays, brewpub ready to begin work in Champaign

CHAMPAIGN – Construction is expected to begin soon on the long-awaited brewery and restaurant planned for downtown Champaign.

Destihl Restaurant & Brew Works recently filed a building permit application with the city of Champaign for just over $1 million of work in the M2 building at Neil and Church streets.

Finally...

The space will be "somewhat similar" to the Normal restaurant, "with some exciting, new changes," he said.

"It will be a little more contemporary than the space here (in Normal) which already has a metro industrial look. We'll take that even farther in Champaign."

The Champaign space will be about 1,000 square feet larger and will have a larger bar area. It will also have room for the brewery with its fermenting tanks, barrels for aging beer and other equipment. The beer will be brewed on-site and within view of diners.

In Normal, the brewery produces about 45 to 50 different beers, and Potts expects to do the same or more in Champaign. Throughout the year, the restaurant and bar serves about 16 to 17 beers at any given time. They tend to always feature about five beers, and the remaining are rotated throughout the year. They'll do some barrel-aging of beer on-site as well.

Potts is Matt Potts, the owner.

Construction on the restaurant is expected to last about four months, with a projected opening date in early spring 2011.

I believe that's the third year in a row that they've planned on opening in the spring.

Alcohol in the news; Normal decision has no effect on Champaign project

From the News Gazette

Normal decision has no effect on Champaign project

CHAMPAIGN – Champaign developer Cody Sokolski said Normal's termination of a redevelopment agreement with his company has "no bearing whatsoever" on the M2 on Neil project in downtown Champaign.

...

Why do we care?

BankChampaign has already moved into space on the first floor, but the long-touted Destihl Restaurant & Brew Works, which would occupy the anchor space at Church and Neil streets, has yet to open.

"Destihl has already started construction," said Sokolski, the chief executive officer of One Main Development. "They wanted to get it done in three to four months."

Three to four months... puts it around January-February. Last year showed promise for Destihl opening, since they had a booth (possibly the most popular one) at the Urbana Beer and Chili thing. however, they were absent from this year.

Alcohol in the news; New businesses planned for M2 in downtown Champaign

From the News-Gazette

New businesses planned for M2 in downtown Champaign

CHAMPAIGN – Two new businesses – a Mongolian-style restaurant and an Irish pub – are expected to open later this year in the M2 building in downtown Champaign.

Both businesses will be owned by Amit and Ritika Chopra, who also own Green Street Cafe.

Both will be located on the north side of the multiuse, nine-story building, facing Neil and Hill Streets. The restaurant will be in the northeast corner and the pub will be next to it, just north of BankChampaign. The pub will serve traditional Irish bar food. The restaurant will feature create-your-own stir fry.

Traditional Irish bar food? Fish and Chips? I wonder if the bar part will challenge Bentley's as the local Irish Pub?

In other M2 news, the brewery equipment for Destihl Restaurant and BrewWorks, which is planned for the south side of the building, was moved into the building last month. Construction on Destihl is expected to start soon, according to Smith. A building permit has not been filed yet.

When will Destihl open? No one knows.