When the founders of Storyhouse Spirits approached Blalock and Partners about designing their first distillery in downtown San Diego, our response was a resounding “yes!… provided that we get paid in whiskey.” Unfortunately, the US dollar ended up being the currency agreed upon, but the project was a labor of love, nonetheless.
The Storyhouse founders secured a warehouse building in the East Village district of downtown San Diego, a building well suited for a distillery, bar and restaurant. The design team’s main focus was to create an atmosphere that promoted and added energy to the Storyhouse brand. Strategies included a direct connection to the active streetscape by means of large bi-folding doors that open the bar area to an exterior dining deck, and providing a direct view of the distilling equipment from all areas of the bar and dining area. These strategies, in combination with an abundance of modern touches that contrast the exposed building structure, created a vibrant atmosphere cherished by both the Storyhouse team and the community they serve. Construction was completed in early 2019; the libations and stories have been flowing ever since. Cheers!
Photography credit: www.haleyhillphotography.com