Re:Find distillery purchases iconic Paso Robles Fox Theatre
Vision is to restore former movie house into new home of distillery
–Re:Find Distillery, Paso Robles’ first craft-distillery, has announced the purchase of the Paso Robles Fox Theatre.
Co-owners Alex and Monica Villicana secured the Fox Theatre to grow their business and restore a dilapidated piece of the Paso Robles community. This purchase is in line with the couple’s business philosophy of utilizing unused resources. Their vision to restore the former movie house on Spring Street brings a piece of history to life as the new downtown home of the distillery.
“This jewel in our community is perfectly aligned with our business,” said Alex Villicana, distiller and proprietor. “We love Paso Robles and its rich history; it was important to us that the building remain standing. It’s the perfect location to be anchored in downtown Paso Robles for the next phase of our growing business.”
The couple has worked through multiple steps including structural analysis, historical society approval and preliminary talks with the city, which all came together in making the purchase decision. The next step is additional data collection to create the plans in making the building structurally sound. This process will define how the distillery will use the building for its production and tasting room.
“The reinforcement of the building and build-out will be a long-term process,” said Monica Villicana, proprietor. “We are excited to move forward. This purchase is significant to our business while allowing us to give back to the Paso Robles community which has been so instrumental to our success.”
The Fox Theatre, built in 1922, is one of Paso Robles buildings’ of significance that helped shape the city’s history. From a Veterans’ of Foreign Wars legion hall, to the HiHo Theatre, to becoming the Fox Theatre in 1957 until it closed in the mid-80s, there is a great deal of nostalgia and memories surrounding the acclaimed marquee.
Great news. That building certainly deserves some love. Good luck to the new owners!
To bad they don't restore it to the theatre it once was….we have enough bars in this toen
Good news! We're looking forward to having them there.
Good news! We're looking forward to having them there.
Good news! We're looking forward to having them there.
Revitalize the downtown! That place has been vacant and unloved for so very long. I will be nice to see her reborn.
Hopefully the city doesn't make this too difficult, expensive or drawn out for these business people. It will be so very good for the town and the community to have this revitalized.
Great job Alex. I'm glad it finally went to business people who know how to run a business.
Great News!
Hooray for the new owners and their vision! I'm glad it will be saved, sad it won't be the theater it once was. A terrible decision to gut all the inside by previous purchaser though… Still concerned about parking.
When it was purchased a while ago there was a lot next door that would have been perfect for parking. As a past downtown merchant, it is hard not to think of parking issues. But so glad it is getting some kind of a green light to proceed!
Soooo Very Happy to see this happen. I hope the City of Paso Robles understands that these wonderful people do not need crazy building department requirements, but they (like all small business in town) need PARKING AND WIDE STREETS!!! Help them out Please!
Great news. That building certainly deserves some love. Good luck to the new owners!
To bad they don't restore it to the theatre it once was….we have enough bars in this toen
Good news! We're looking forward to having them there.
Good news! We're looking forward to having them there.
Good news! We're looking forward to having them there.
Revitalize the downtown! That place has been vacant and unloved for so very long. I will be nice to see her reborn.
Hopefully the city doesn't make this too difficult, expensive or drawn out for these business people. It will be so very good for the town and the community to have this revitalized.
Great job Alex. I'm glad it finally went to business people who know how to run a business.
Great News!
Hooray for the new owners and their vision! I'm glad it will be saved, sad it won't be the theater it once was. A terrible decision to gut all the inside by previous purchaser though… Still concerned about parking.
When it was purchased a while ago there was a lot next door that would have been perfect for parking. As a past downtown merchant, it is hard not to think of parking issues. But so glad it is getting some kind of a green light to proceed!
Soooo Very Happy to see this happen. I hope the City of Paso Robles understands that these wonderful people do not need crazy building department requirements, but they (like all small business in town) need PARKING AND WIDE STREETS!!! Help them out Please!