A former post office in Westerville, Ohio, will open as High Bank Distillery this spring through a multimillion-dollar redevelopment.
Westerville, about a 20-minute drive from downtown Columbus, holds a piece of history as it's said to have been a pioneer in prohibition, being one of the first villages in Ohio to pass a local prohibition ordinance, according to High Bank Co.
High Bank Distillery is being co-developed by Steve Wathen of Equity Construction Solutions and John Brooks of BTTS Holdings, along with WSA Studio, for a total of $2.7 million.
Located at 28 South State St., it will feature a roughly 3,600-square-foot full-service restaurant and bar, including two patios, a retail store and exterior designated refreshment area window. There will also be a roughly 2,000-square-foot speakeasy underground with a curated cocktail and small bites menu.
This will be High Bank Co.'s third location in the Columbus area and is just 12 miles from its sister location in Grandview.
The project received a 2024 CoStar Impact Award for sale of the year, as judged by real estate professionals familiar with the market.
Its exterior will be intact from its historic form with crown molding and original brickwork, while the interior will mix modern finishes matching High Bank's classic industrial aesthetic.
About the Project: The property was originally built in 1935. It was purchased by Equity Construction Solutions for $500,000 from the city of Westerville in April 2023, according to CoStar data.
What the Judges Said: "The post office/High Bank Distillery project brings new life to a building that was once home to the Westerville Detective Bureau. This project has some obstacles including tight spaces, not a lot of room for construction material and staging, redoing the alley, which impacted neighboring businesses, and sits in an architectural review district. Once complete, this project will breathe new life into the building, while also paying homage to the role of Westerville in Prohibition." — Stephen Gale, economic development specialist, city of Westerville.
"The 'family' impact of this project is truly at a grass-roots level. Westerville natives working to build their own community up using existing and historical landmarks already familiar to the community." — David Dean, senior brokerage administrator, Equity.
They Made It Happen: Aaron Heath, senior vice president, Equity Construction Solutions; Noah Heath, advisor, Equity Construction Solutions; and Max Hartings, development manager, Equity Construction Solutions.