DISTILLERY
Making moves: Hollow Spirits to expand into former Bosque Brewing Co. location
Initially, expansion wasn鈥檛 on the agenda for Hollow Spirits owner-founder Frank Holloway.
That is, until his mom 鈥� who is also his business partner 鈥� made him aware that the building on Eubank Boulevard and Spain Road NE previously occupied by Bosque Brewing Co. was available for lease. The original Hollow Spirits on First Street began as a distillery and restaurant in 2018 before closing its pour room and transitioning to a space used exclusively for special events and private parties.
鈥淭o tell you the truth, we weren鈥檛 really looking to expand. We wanted to do events and a couple different things, but not really a full-blown restaurant anymore,鈥� Holloway said. 鈥�(My mom) saw the building for lease, and she just sent the email. And then the email led to a tour, which I said, 鈥業 really, really, really don鈥檛 want to do this. We鈥檙e not going to do this.鈥�
鈥淭hen I went on the tour, and pretty much the place is a turnkey restaurant 鈥� a beautiful, beautiful spot. All the equipment, everything鈥檚 there. The location and everything are kind of too perfect. I don鈥檛 know if we would have made this move anywhere but this exact situation.鈥�
The goal is to open the new Hollow Spirits location sometime this summer. The official date hinges on receiving a liquor license, a process Holloway hopes can be completed in approximately 90 days, though it could be longer.
鈥淭he spot鈥檚 ready, like we could open tomorrow if we really wanted to,鈥� Holloway said. 鈥淣ow we鈥檙e just kind of waiting on licensing. And there鈥檚 a lot of stuff for us to put in place.鈥�
In the interim, the plan is to apply for a few celebration licenses to allow Hollow Spirits to hold public events at the space. These will introduce offerings like the food menu or cocktail options, depending on the evening.
Aside from the obvious shift from a brewery to a distillery, Holloway plans to put a 鈥淗ollow Spirits twist鈥� on the location. The establishment鈥檚 line of spirits, which includes agave, whiskey, vodka, gin and rum, will be available 鈥� as will a variety of cocktails. According to Holloway, the agave spirits and vodka (especially the Lavender Vodka) have been among the top sellers when it comes to bottles. For cocktails, pour room favorites like the Lavender Moon and the Old Fashioned will return, but Holloway also promises that 鈥渨e have to get a little bit creative.鈥� There will also be some local beers and wine available, including a few Bosque staples.
The food menu will return with simple-yet-popular options like burgers and tacos. Former Hollow Spirits chef Tristin Rogers is on board in an advisory capacity to help with the menu and kitchen.
鈥淗e鈥檚 not working there full time, but we鈥檙e bringing all his magic back to us,鈥� Holloway said.
While Hollow Spirits built a following in its downtown location prior to closing its pour room, Holloway says business slowed in later years. The new location is an ideal opportunity to expose the brand to a new audience in a space that already drew a crowd.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 actually one huge reason to do this, to have people enjoy our spirits on a day-to-day (basis),鈥� Holloway said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going into a whole new clientele of people who don鈥檛 know who we are. We鈥檝e been around for seven years. So there鈥檚 a decent amount of people who know us, but when it really comes down to it, we鈥檙e still a small fish. So we want to expose people to what we do.鈥�
