BRADENTON -- Halloween night and a long line of costume-clad party people waited outside to provide identification and pay for entrance. Once the crowd numbered 302, patrons had to wait until someone left before being allowed in The Distillery Tavern at 108 44th Avenue West. Manatee County’s top purveyors of original music -- The Chase Theory, Daylight District, Farewell Verona, Rumors of War and Bootleg -- whipped the audience into a frenzy.
But that was 2005.
“The economy just can’t sustain a place this size anymore,” said Distillery owner Paul Kotlarczyk.
The Distillery has found a smaller home on Old Main Street in downtown Bradenton. The staff spent Tuesday morning removing the slew of decorated cash money that had adorned the walls behind the bar and wooden beams above it. There were a couple C-notes, several 20s, tens, fives and a multitude of ones. Kotlarczyk estimated the haul at $1,700. The money will be donated to Suncoast Charities for Children.
“My wife Stephanie and I just had a baby girl, Paisley Wren, and felt very fortunate she was born healthy,” Kotlarczyk said. “That hit close to home, realizing there are kids out there who don’t come home healthy.”
The Distillery’s last day of operation in the old location will be Saturday. Staff has been accepting guesses from the regulars as to how much money is actually on the walls. The three people who come the closest will receive a $100, $75 or $50 bar tab.
Tyson from Offshore Riot will perform an acoustic gig from 5 to 9 p.m. that day and Star 80 takes the stage at 10 p.m. Jack Daniel’s representatives will give away promos and there will be drink specials throughout the day. There will be no cover charge.
“We anticipate a large crowd for the evening as family, friends, long standing regulars, and reminiscent patrons are sure to be there to help celebrate the end of an era,” Kotlarczyk said. “Man, if these walls could talk.”
After spending four years behind the bar at the Lost Kangaroo on Old Main, the affable Kotlarczyk opened the 8,000-square-foot Distillery in December 2003.
During its glory days, there were two rooms with accompanying bars. The main space had the stage for music and in the game center people could choose from three pool tables, air hockey, foosball and jam money into the jukebox. Only the main room remains open today.
“You put 30 people in the Lost Kangaroo and the place looks packed,” Kotlarczyk said. “In here with 30 people the place looks empty and people walk out. Crowds attract crowds.”
The Distillery hopes to open at 450 Old Main Street by early August. It’s where Kotlarczyk’s new landowner had his Don Hall Productions photography facility. The 1,800-square-foot establishment will feature a long bar with stools, high top tables and lounge furniture. In addition to liquor, beer, wine and other libations, The Distillery will serve food. Only one item but Kotlarczyk promised it won’t disappoint. A brick oven is being installed for pizza to be served by the slice until close. Central Cafe owner Mark Cripe has been recruited to help teach Kotlarczyk and his employees the art of pizza making.
“We’ll be using all fresh ingredients,” Kotlarczyk said. “No frozen stuff. It will be pizza done right.”
The Distillery’s new location will be too small for booking bands but entrance will always be free. It’s housed in a mixed-use building with a studio and two-bedroom apartment above it that Kotlarczyk plans to rent.
“I spent $15,000 on an acoustic installment so jukebox music and bar noise won’t interfere with residents above,” he said.
Kotlarczyk has yet to request money from the Bradenton Downtown Development Authority.
“We want to demonstrate that we’re capable of bringing people to downtown Bradenton first and not the other way around,” he said.
Wade Tatangelo, features writer/columnist, can be reached at (941) 745-7057.
