December 28,2018-
The owners of the popular Barrelhouse Brewery are negotiating to purchase the historic Bastille building in Hanford from the city. The possible deal was revealed on a city council closed door meeting agenda December 18.
Barrelhouse would open a taproom in the ironic building, what would be the fourth project for the partners in the business who were raised in Kings County, Jason Carvalho and Kevin Nickell.
From their base in Paso Robles, the company – found in 2013, has expanded to San Luis Obispo and now into Visalia in 2017 where opened a taproom on east Main.
The partners also co-own Carvalho Construction of Hanford.
The vacant Bastille building has been a problem for the city for several years and interest in selling the well-placed property located in the heart of the city’s Downtown square has increased recently. In the past month the idea surfaced at a public meeting. It was reported that Michelle Brown of Main Street Hanford said that it came to her attention that Barrelhouse Brewing Company has expressed interest in buying the Bastille. She asked the Council to not let this opportunity pass by. She further stated that she is opposed to placing a homeless service center downtown.
Constructed in 1897, the Bastille was originally Kings County’s jail until 1964. The place was converted into a restaurant/nightclub and used that way for several decades until the operator was evicted for past due rent. It been vacant for about 10 years except for occasional use by researchers to who wanted too see if stories about the place being haunted were true.
Constructed in Romanesque style, the building is notable for its crenellated octagonal tower. It is closed and boarded up.
Perhaps now the idea of revitalizing the Downtown with a proven draw, a brew pub with a track record of success- will come true.