After a failed attempt last year to reach a deal for the former Felice’s Garage property on West Avenue in Patchogue, The Better Man Distilling Company has just made a huge announcement on its Facebook page.
The company has inked a deal for the soon-to-be-vacated Blue Point brewery on River Avenue and has plans to distill in Patchogue.
“So in BETTER(MAN) news, we have signed a lease to take over the soon to be former home of Blue Point Beer at 161 River Ave in Patchogue,” reads the Facebook post. “Move in Day will be Jan 1 2019, With hopefully a grand opening early summer of ’19.
“Thanks to Mario Vigliotta of Coldwell Banker Commercial Island Corporate Services for putting it together.”
After the deal for the West Avenue property fell through last summer, Anthony Gruppuso of Bayport, who founded the company with his wife, Laurie, insisted they would not be shifting plans away from distilling in Patchogue.
“Patchogue is my priority,” he told us in September. “I’m actually just about to sit down with somebody to cover a couple of options and see what we can do and see what works.”
“The financing is good for four years,” he added. “All we need to do now is find a suitable location and we can hit the ground running.”
This is a breaking news story. Check back at GreaterPatchogue for updates as the plans progress.
Also according to its Facebook feed, the company has changed its name from the original Bitter Man over trademark concerns.
Top: A file photo of the Blue Point brewery on River Avenue in a 2016 blizzard. (Benny Migliorino)
prior coverage:
Bitter Man Distilling Co.’s plans for Patchogue distillery shift away from West Avenue
