An Ottawa-based distillery is proposing to expand its operations with a new industrial facility that would include retail space and a bar.
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An Ottawa-based distillery is proposing to expand its operations with a new industrial facility that would include retail space and a bar.
Stratford-Fox Run Distillery & Brewery, which currently operates a facility on Silver Seven Road in Kanata, has submitted a proposal to the city to build two light industrial buildings on a 2.27-hectare lot at 5923 Ottawa St.
The property, which is currently vacant, is located within the village of Richmond, with surrounding lands to the east and west occupied by industrial uses. A rail line owned by VIA Rail passes north of the site, while vacant land south of the property across Ottawa Street is slated for residential development.
According to an application summary for the proposal, the first one-storey building, with 738 square metres of floor area, would contain four offices, a tasting room, a retail store and a small bar/pub with patio seating in front of the building.
The second building, also one storey, would be a warehouse containing the distillery and brewery, occupying 1,042 square metres.
A design brief for the project said the building would have a “contemporary industrial aesthetic,” with the goal of achieving an overall look that is “raw and utilitarian, often inspired by repurposed warehouses and factories.”
“This industrial distillery building represents a synthesis of functionality, sustainability, and aesthetic appeal, making it a landmark within its urban context,” the project’s design brief said. “Its design not only serves the operational needs of spirit production but also engages the community, inviting visitors to explore and appreciate the craft of distillation.”
Also included in the proposal are 11 vehicle and six bicycle parking spots for the first building, while the second would have space to accommodate nine vehicles and six bicycles.
Stratford-Fox Run Distillery currently operates a facility at 23-767 Silver Seven Rd., which contains a production floor, guided tastings, tours and a cocktail lounge, alongside its sister company, Pistols Brewery.
The distillery and brewery are part of a suite of four businesses operated by the Stratford-Fox Run Group of Companies. In addition to Pistols Brewery, a craft beer venture, the organization runs SFR Equestrian, a hunter and jumper facility in North Gower, and Broncs and ‘Tonks, a rodeo and country music festival in the city's east end.