High Bank to open third location in Westerville
It will feature full-service restaurant, bar, 2 patios
High Bank Distillery has revealed plans to open a restaurant and speakeasy in Uptown Westerville by spring 2024.
The third High Bank location will open at 28 S. State St., offering around a 3,600 square foot full-service restaurant and bar with two patios, a retail store and an exterior DORA window. Underground, a nearly 2000 square foot speakeasy will serve elevated cocktails and small plates.
Adam Hines, High Bank’s co-founder and master distiller, aims to honor Westerville’s history as one of the birthplaces of Prohibition by renovating an old Post Office building, which played a role in distributing anti-alcohol propaganda during Prohibition.
“We want to honor and preserve the history of Westerville by bringing our third location to a city with such a rich story,” said Hines in a release. “We are excited to tell stories and create experiences for the community through both our restaurant and distillery.”
The new High Bank location in Westerville will consist of a restaurant and bar on the main floor, serving food and High Bank spirits. The underground speakeasy will pay tribute to Henry Corbin, who in 1875 opened a saloon in Westerville and defied the strong opposition to alcohol consumption. The tribute to the Prohibition era will also include a specialized cocktail menu.
The $2.7 million project is a collaboration between High Bank, Columbusbased commercial real estate firm Equity and Westerville-based property owner and developer BTTS Holdings. Architecture firm WSA Studio will lead the building conversion. The historic building’s exterior will be preserved, featuring original brickwork and crown molding, while the interior will embody High Bank’s industrial aesthetic blended with modern furnishings.
Hines, whose family has lived in Westerville for nearly a decade, said he is excited about a High Bank location in
Westerville.
“I have seen how much the community has grown over the last decade and am excited to continue to raise my family here,” Hines said. “It has always been my dream to have a High Bank location here to contribute to the culture and community of Uptown Westerville.”
High Bank was recently awarded best-blended whiskey in America for the third year in a row at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, one of the biggest spirits competitions in the world. The distillery company was also awarded 6 Double Golds, the most double golds in America and second in the world and was highlighted in Forbes.
tmoorman@dispatch.com