Distillery-steakhouse-speakeasy combo planned for downtown Salisbury

Maddie Aiken, Salisbury Daily Times
·2 min read

What do steak, liquor manufacturing and illicit drinking have in common? SBY Distillery, Corp. plans to bring all three to downtown Salisbury.

The company is currently constructing a steakhouse, distillery and speakeasy at 117-119 W. Main St.

On Tuesday, SBY Distillery, Corp. received a letter of support from the Wicomico County Council to receive funding for construction costs from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

The business, which will be housed in the former White & Leonard building, will feature indoor and outdoor seating.

SBY Distillery, Corp. has received a letter of support to receive funding from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development for Construction Costs associated with 117-119 West Main Street in Salisbury, Maryland.
SBY Distillery, Corp. has received a letter of support to receive funding from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development for Construction Costs associated with 117-119 West Main Street in Salisbury, Maryland.

The steakhouse and distillery will be located on the building's first floor. Bret Davis, co-owner of SBY Distillery, Corp., estimated to the council that the steakhouse will seat 80 people inside and 20-30 people outside.

The distillery will make liquor for this restaurant and others.

The distillery won't be something "worth touring" because of its small size, according to Davis. It will make up about 1,500 square feet of the project's 8,000-square-foot span.

The restaurant's speakeasy will be hidden in the basement.

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Davis said guests will need to dial a passcode into a rotary phone to enter the speakeasy.

Once inside, guests will find about 100 seats, a bar and a second kitchen. Davis added the speakeasy will emulate an upscale, classier restaurant with a "perception of historic nature."

The business plans to use the same ownership structure and staff as Mogan's Oyster House, Davis said.

SBY Distillery, Corp. has received a letter of support to receive funding from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development for Construction Costs associated with 117-119 West Main Street in Salisbury, Maryland.
SBY Distillery, Corp. has received a letter of support to receive funding from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development for Construction Costs associated with 117-119 West Main Street in Salisbury, Maryland.

SBY Distillery, Corp. also plans to expand the building's housing options. Three of the building's eight one-bedroom apartments will be converted into two-bedroom apartments.

These plans will give Salisbury its first distillery and first speakeasy.

Davis credited the city's growth and size as reasons why Salisbury was chosen for the $2.5 million project.

"Downtown Salisbury has the right pieces in place that other towns don't," Davis said at the council meeting.

Maddie Aiken covers local business for Delmarva Now/The Daily Times. Have a story tip or idea? Send it her way at maiken@delmarvanow.com or on Twitter @madsaiken.

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Salisbury's first distillery, speakeasy planned for downtown