Distillery to open in Falls Church
Local residents will soon have a place to enjoy homemade
spirits when Fall Church Distillers opens this spring.
spirits when Fall Church Distillers opens this spring.
The establishment, at 442 S. Washington St. in Falls Church,
will have two parts, says owner Mike Paluzzi: There will be a distillery with a
300-gallon still where customers can try made-on-the spot whiskey, vodka, rum, gin, and brandy
with unique food pairings plus a bar Tuscan café-style décor offering high-end wine, craft beer, and
small plates of food.
will have two parts, says owner Mike Paluzzi: There will be a distillery with a
300-gallon still where customers can try made-on-the spot whiskey, vodka, rum, gin, and brandy
with unique food pairings plus a bar Tuscan café-style décor offering high-end wine, craft beer, and
small plates of food.
“It’s as much about the experience as the alcohol,” says
Paluzzi, who notes that the food will be designed to complete the drinks. Falls
Church Distillers will be a place to enjoy happy hour, with things like
unique cocktails and bruschetta or whiskey with honey, rather than a full
dinner.
The exact opening will be “somewhat at the whim of
government,” says Paluzzi, an IT professional who lives in Seven Corners. A distillery
requires more red tape than the permits and licenses needed to open a standard
restaurant or bar. “The process takes at least six months and we’re four months
in.”
government,” says Paluzzi, an IT professional who lives in Seven Corners. A distillery
requires more red tape than the permits and licenses needed to open a standard
restaurant or bar. “The process takes at least six months and we’re four months
in.”
“The City of Falls Church has been incredibly helpful,” he says,
noting that Fairfax County, where he explored first for possible locations, has
even more restrictive regulations.
noting that Fairfax County, where he explored first for possible locations, has
even more restrictive regulations.
Paluzzi plans to produce about 100 gallons of alcohol a
week. The distillery will sell bottles to customers and other restaurants.
Bottling will be done on site.
week. The distillery will sell bottles to customers and other restaurants.
Bottling will be done on site.
There will be seating for 60 to 70 people. In the future, he
might host special events, like chef nights, and classes on distillation.
might host special events, like chef nights, and classes on distillation.
Falls Church Distillers will feature on its walls rotating
displays art from the organization Let Art Live On, which will be available for
purchase.
displays art from the organization Let Art Live On, which will be available for
purchase.
In recognition of the distillery’s location at Tinner Hill, Paluzzi
is planning an art exhibition with the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation during
the opening commemorating the site of the first rural NAACP chapter.
is planning an art exhibition with the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation during
the opening commemorating the site of the first rural NAACP chapter.
His oldest son, Lorenzo, who has a degree in chemistry, will
be the chief distiller, so Paluzzi sees Falls Church Distillers as an
opportunity for the two of them to so something together.
be the chief distiller, so Paluzzi sees Falls Church Distillers as an
opportunity for the two of them to so something together.
This will be Paluzzi’s first business venture, although he
has a “wine-loving background.” He grew up in an Italian community in
Pennsylvania by the New York state line where everyone grew grapes and made
their own wine, aperitifs, and liqueur.
has a “wine-loving background.” He grew up in an Italian community in
Pennsylvania by the New York state line where everyone grew grapes and made
their own wine, aperitifs, and liqueur.
He settled in California after leaving the Air Force, where
he “fell in love with the wineries” and learned all about wine making. Now, Paluzzi wants to bring distilling back to Virginia.
he “fell in love with the wineries” and learned all about wine making. Now, Paluzzi wants to bring distilling back to Virginia.
“Virginia was the birthplace of spirits in America,” he
says, noting that at one time George Washington was the largest distiller in the country.
Now there are just a little over 40 in the state and there hasn’t been one in
Fairfax County since A. Smith Bowman moved its distillery from Reston to
Fredericksburg in 1988.
says, noting that at one time George Washington was the largest distiller in the country.
Now there are just a little over 40 in the state and there hasn’t been one in
Fairfax County since A. Smith Bowman moved its distillery from Reston to
Fredericksburg in 1988.
Falls Church Distillers is on the former site of Mobu Kids,
an indoor playground for children which plans to reopen to Fairfax County.
“We’re turning it into an adult playground,” Paluzzi says.
I hope this distillery does well, but after campaigning to defeat the proposed Fairfax meals tax, I can't justify dining in another local jurisdiction that imposes such a tax.
Lol ok mate
I'm curious. Since Falls Church City does use some FFX County services, do business owners in FCC pay BPOL and other taxes to FFX County? Is this revenue for the county as well as for FCC?
FCC pays Fairfax County for water and other services it receives. However, residents and businesses in FCC are not obligated to pay taxes to Fairfax County. That's because FCC is an independent municipality that collects all of its own taxes, including one for BPOL.
“It’s as much about the experience as the alcohol,” or, in other words, we can't afford both a chef AND a master distiller!
You regularly expect your distilleries to employ master chefs? Anyway, seems like a really cool concept. Sampling ready-made hooch with food pairings has got to be new to the area.
A distillery, that is what Culmore needs.