A Springfield-based restaurant and craft brewery is opening its second location in Peoria next week. Obed & Isaac’s Microbrewery and Eatery announced it's set to open Mon., with a ceremony that includes comments from Mayor Jim Ardis and Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Obed & Isaac's first location is just a few blocks away from the Governor's Mansion in the capital city. A spokesperson for the parent company, Conn's Hospitality Group, says Gov. Rauner is a regular, and he typically orders the brewery’s black IPA.
“We’re happy to try to keep a good stock of that ready for him. But really, I think his probably more important purpose of being there is to discuss that we’re doing quite a few things at once,” Conn's Corporate Administrator Bryan Tippy said.
Tippy says Rauner will likely highlight Conn's investment in a landmark structure and the subsequent creation of at least 100 jobs downtown.
The Cornerstone Building was designed by Chicago architect W.W. Boyington, who also designed the Water Tower building on Michigan Ave.
“This building [Cornerstone], I think is one of the main reasons why we came to Peoria. We searched far and wide throughout Illinois, and actually through the Midwest, to look for our next project,” Tippy said.
Conn’s Hospitality owns and operates several businesses in Springfield that are also housed in centuries-old buildings, like the Inn at 835 that was once a florist shop in the 1890s . The company touts that the addition of the 127-year-old structure in Peoria brings its total ownership up to more than 600 years' worth of historic buildings.
In addition to breathing life into a Peoria landmark, the hospitality group is also bringing back what was once the city's signature industry -- distilling. Tippy says the company is in phase two of three in the development timeline for the Cornerstone property. Phase three involves the installation of a still for making spirits, like gin vodka.
Meantime, the taps are set to begin pouring house-made beer and ciders starting next week.