Columnist gives update on progress of distillery.
This item is available in full to subscribers.
To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account and connect your subscription to it by clicking here.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active, online-only subscription then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
I heard an interesting update on the downtown distillery at a recent Rochelle Rotary Club meeting.
Doris and Rick Kennay talked about the downtown venture and what it will offer people in search of a local taste. They will eventually have bourbon, but it takes a few years to produce a finished product. They will also have vodka, rum, gin and other varieties of alcohol that can be produced with less aging time.
Rick said he hopes to draw 12,000 people to the distillery annually. My math skills are not great, but that seems to be 1,000 people per month, or about 250 on a weekend in a typical month.
He’s hoping there will be some bus tours in those numbers, but I imagine the majority of people will be in personal vehicles.
There have been a couple of private events already, and if you happened to drive through downtown Rochelle during one of those events, you might have noticed the street full of parked cars. It looked good.
I hope the branding plans for the parking area on Main Street and Fourth Avenue have not been dropped. I still think a farmer’s market, ice rink and small stage would be great for the area.
Terry Dickow is a retired elementary school teacher with lots of opinions, some you will like, some you won’t. He can be contacted at terrydickow@gmail.com.