The plans to build a distillery and tasting room in the former Pat Felice’s garage building on West Avenue in Patchogue are no more.
Anthony Gruppuso of Bayport had planned to run Bitter Man Distilling Co. with his wife, Laurie, out of the old mechanic’s shop. But they said Friday that a deal to purchase the building at 147 West Avenue has fallen through.
The property owner recently died and the new owner is going in a different direction, though the Gruppusos were in contract to acquire the building, he said.
Gruppuso said he and his wife are not giving up on opening in Patchogue Village as they seek to establish Long Island’s first distillery in an urban/downtown area.
“Patchogue is my priority,” he said. “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.”
He said the couple has all of its financing in place.
“The financing is good for four years,” he said. “All we need to do now is find a suitable location and we can hit the ground running.”
The village Planning Board had already approved plans for West Avenue.
Earlier this year, Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri told GreaterPatchogue he thought a craft distillery would be a nice fit for the village, and one that’s “low impact.”
“With the direction the village is going in, by making this a community that is attractive to young people, this fits pretty well with the entertainment and restaurant-type of business,” he said.
The plan for the craft distillery is to use New York State farm products to make vodka, gin, whiskey and bourbon. It would also feature a tasting room with a small kitchen for food offerings. (The food is required by state law.)
Tasting room guests would sample the spirits straight or by mixed cocktails.
