This restaurant space is available for lease at 78 Franklin Street in Norwich, CT. It was most recently operated by “These Guys Brewery” equipped and functioning as a Restaurant/Brewery. The space is historic. It opened in the 1860s as Andrew Wilson’s Saloon. It is documented as the oldest continuously operating Bar in CT. During Prohibition it was a Speakeasy serving the rich and famous of Norwich. In more recent years, it was a music venue with major rock stars performing, drinking and eating at the bar. A partial list includes Stevie Ray Vaugn, Matt Guitar Murphy of the Blues Brothers, members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allman Brothers, and Blue Oyster Cult as well as country rock and jazz musicians, Neil Young, Dave Van Ronk and New Riders of the Purple Sage. And, the bar itself was featured in “Everybody Wins” starring Nick Nolte and Debra Winger.
Parking is among the best in downtown Norwich with 2 City-owned street lots adjacent to the property and two parking garages within one block of the restaurant. A bus line serving the entire City and areas South and North of the City passes by the front door.
It is a great place for another Bar/Restaurant or Brewery with 2468sf of main floor restaurant/bar space, a 60-seat upper bar area, a 1,170sf service production space, a party room with 900sf space and direct access to the side parking lot and a summer 60-seat patio space. There is also a 12-seat sidewalk space with full liquor license. Licensed capacity is 170+/- patrons. There is also an unfinished 1,978sf basement working space with a lot of storage, and a 2nd level office space with storage area. 2025-2026 real estate taxes for this property are $11,663.46.
The restaurant is equipped with 3-Phase power, new wiring, compressed air infrastructure and other capabilities required by a large craft brewery. Equipment in place includes: a 14’ hood, Ansul System with 2 walk-in coolers (8’x6’ & 12’x6’), a 6-burner gas stove, fryolator and all mechanicals in place.
The neighborhood is up and coming, located next to Foundry 66, a co-working space incubator with 26 start-ups at work, the Chestnut Street Playhouse, ArtSpace Norwich, Donald L Oat Theater & Auditorium and City Hall. The Property Owner owns and operates the Norwich CT Bartending School at 76 Franklin St on the 2nd floor of the main building.