M2G Ventures
Proof
A rendering of Proof
There's history behind the 94-year-old building at 901 W. Vickery Blvd, from its early days as Adkins-Polk Whole Grocers to its most recent stint as the former home of distillery Firestone & Robertson.
There's a future, too. Real estate company M2G Ventures is transforming the 40,665-square-foot space into a hub for entertainment, office, restaurants, and retail, dubbing the project "Proof" — a reference to the distilled alcohol content of liquor and nod to the building's former life as a distillery.
A couple tenants are already on board. One of them is Bowlounge, a retro-style bowling alley that'll occupy 15,000 square feet; another is Witherite Law Group, whose office will occupy 7,000 square feet.
The rest of Proof is available for additional offices, retail, and/or a restaurant, says M2G co-president Jessica Miller Essl.
"A lot of people looked at it and said either tear down, or for that kind of price, you're going to have to put a ton of retail in the building," she says. "[Co-president Susan Gruppi] and I saw a really unique opportunity to do a historic renovation."
M2G plans to retain much of the structure's original elements, like its 13-inch thick Chicago brick walls, wood plank ceilings, and steel fire doors. Loading docks will be transformed into patios, and repurposed artifacts will be used as art and other elements throughout the space.
In addition, M2G is planning a large-scale mural and sculpture installation for the property. The building will also have 105 parking spaces.
M2G expects construction to finish by October, with Bowlounge and Witherite Law Group opening before the end of the year.
"We really fancy ourselves as storytellers for all of our buildings, and this one is just story after story," Essl says. "It's one of those ones where you have to edit yourself down."
