Posted on May 17, 2016
RE:FIND Distillery Purchases Paso Robles Iconic Fox Theatre
Utilizing existing, unused resources is paramount to the brand’s success
May 17, 2016, (Paso Robles, CA) – RE:FIND Distillery, Paso Robles’ first craft-distillery announced the purchase of the Paso Robles Fox Theatre. Co-owners Alex and Monica Villicana secured the Fox Theatre to grow their business and restore a dilapidated piece of the Paso Robles community. This purchase is in line with the couple’s business philosophy of utilizing unused resources. Their vision to restore the former movie house on Spring Street brings a piece of history to life as the new downtown home of RE:FIND Distillery.
“This jewel in our community is perfectly aligned with our business,” said Alex Villicana, distiller and proprietor. “We love Paso Robles and its rich history; it was important to us that the building remain standing. It’s the perfect location to be anchored in downtown Paso Robles for the next phase of our growing business.”
The couple has worked through multiple steps including structural analysis, historical society approval and preliminary talks with the city, which all came together in making the purchase decision. The next step is additional data collection to create the plans in making the building structurally sound. This process will define how RE:FIND will use the building for its production and tasting room.
“The reinforcement of the building and build-out will be a long-term process,” said Monica Villicana, proprietor. “We are excited to move forward. This purchase is significant to our business while allowing us to give back to the Paso Robles community which has been so instrumental to our success.”
The Fox Theatre, built in 1922, is one of Paso Robles buildings’ of significance that helped shape the city’s history. From a Veterans’ of Foreign Wars legion hall, to the HiHo Theatre, to becoming the Fox Theatre in 1957 until it closed in the mid-80s, there is a great deal of nostalgia and memories surrounding the acclaimed marquee. Now the former movie house on Spring Street takes on a new role in shaping the community’s future, as Paso Robles becomes an epicenter for wine, craft-spirits, microbrewers, fine dining and tourism.
The Villicana’s vision to create top shelf craft-spirits from their winery has pioneered a new local spirits movement within Paso Robles, which adds to the tourist experience. RE:FIND was the region’s first craft distillery, which now boasts eight micro-distilleries.
About RE:FIND Distillery:
RE:FIND Distillery was created out of the Villicana’s desire to be more economically and environmentally sustainable in their winery practices by utilizing resources otherwise discarded. As a winemaker for more than 20 years, Alex experienced first-hand the amount of prized free-run juice not being used each vintage. After years of research he found a way to utilize the juice for a new purpose in making craft-spirits. His vision saves the equivalent of more than 50-acres of premium Paso Robles wine grapes each year. That’s a lot of water, fuel, and manpower being repurposed into a premium spirit. Learn more about RE:FIND Distillery at 805-239-9456 or at www.refinddistillery.com.
