Indie food & drink during Harvest Homecoming: Donum Dei Brewery and Wick's Pizza Parlor.

Harvest Homecoming's annual occupation of downtown New Albany is almost here, and in 2016, "booth days" take place from October 6 - 9 (Thursday through Sunday). We're here to have a look at what's taking place behind the booths, where our independent local businesses operate throughout the year.

Previously we've charted the progress of renovations at the old Abe's Rental building (140 E. Main Street). The current rumor has it eventually becoming a bakery, and more strides have been made since August, when this was posted:

RENOVATION UPDATE: You know, that building where Abe's Rental used to be (140 E Main St).

In the completed patio setting shown above, Donum Dei Brewery (3211 Grant Line Road; behind El Nopal) will be staging a beer garden during Harvest Homecoming booth days.

We will be having a Harvest Homecoming Beer Garden! Come and relax and have a couple of pints.

The locations is 140 E. Main. The garden will be on the patio behind the building.

Hours will be:

Thursday October 6, 11-10
Friday October 7, 11-11
Saturday October 8, 11-11
Sunday October 9, 11-6

We will have live original music Friday and Saturday night 7-9.

Friday Bob and Erin Youell
Saturday South Upand

A block away at Wick's Pizza Parlor (225 State Street), the emphasis is on the music, but of course there'll be food and drink as well.

As listings are posted, we'll add and update here.

For officially sanctioned activities, go here: 2016 Harvest Homecoming Festival Guide.

Good grief, Wick's Pizza somehow has managed to tick off Harvest Homecoming worse than even me.

We cannot allow your proposal to disrupt normal Harvest Homecoming procedures downtown, given that normal Harvest Homecoming procedures already disrupt everything else downtown.
-- Board of Works (body language, not actual words)

In 2012, Wick’s Pizza had an idea to stage an outdoor beer garden during Harvest Homecoming, and to share a measure of the branding with NABC. This idea was rejected, and I took issue with it.

... It is my belief that this story illustrates an ever-widening disconnect between the understandable self-identity (not to mention preservation instinct) of the part-time Harvest Homecoming, and the re-emergence of a full-time downtown business district with objectives, needs and identities of its own.

Why is Harvest Homecoming still allowed to throw its weight around in this manner for a mere four days a year, when the best strategy of potential benefit for all the city’s residents is to nurture and build a downtown capable of throwing its weight around, and accruing dividends, every single day of the year?

Then, in 2013, the Wick's plan was approved. Once again, I took note of it.

This year Wick's can have a tent during Harvest Homecoming, but in 2012, the tail was wagging the dog.

Today in the News and Tribune, Duniel Saddeath reveals that the Board of Works has approved a request by Wick's to use the adjacent parking lot for a tent during Harvest Homecoming, and that "since Wick’s won’t be using the official logo of the festival, permission from the Harvest Homecoming committee won’t be needed in order to set up the tent."

Ironically, once booth days started in 2013 and Wick's implemented its own fest plan, the pendulum came crashing back again, this time against the eatery's solar plexus. I was moved to comment, and let's repeat my words in full.

HH? WTF.

In a reversal of course from 2012, this year Wick's Pizza was given permission by the city to turn the adjacent parking lots into a "fringe" fest venue operating during New Albany's annual Harvest Homecoming booth days.

Wick's proceeded to spend quite a lot of money for tents, bands, fencing, security, port-a-lets, and all the other little necessities required to stage four days of good quality, locally-based entertainment.

Having done so, Wick's has spent the week experiencing petty harassment from entities ranging from state fire marshals down through city police. The latter evidently made up new rules (see "department, health") governing what folks outside the fenced enclosure are permitted to see, lest the merriment within actually compel them to enter and partake.

The point, at least to me, is yet another indication of the prevailing disconnect during Harvest Homecoming. Having approved the Wick's plan, wouldn't you think that the city would choose to work with the business entity, rather than remain aloof while components of government (in effect) work against the approval? It predictably has infuriated the business and building owner. And yet the city is silent.

Of course, considering the time and effort put into the week by Wick's, most of us instinctively grasp that only one hegemonic structure in town would have any reason to be alarmed, this being Harvest Homecoming itself, which is allowed to occupy downtown for four days in October as the rest of us search for the precise commandment, specific ordinance or cocktail napkin memo enabling the invasive takeover.

Can we please be honest? Harvest Homecoming's extractive business model depends on several things: The city must bear the brunt of infrastructure expenses under a flimsy rationale of economic development -- a rationale that now actively contradicts the principle of downtown revival.

Also, money spent during Harvest Homecoming needs to be directed whenever possible to vendors licensed and approved by Harvest Homecoming, as well as to events held by the festival. If one has only a few days to make maximum bank, then encouraging money to be spent elsewhere downtown is not part of the game plan.

Consequently, given that the Wick's extravaganza in 2013 arguably has been a financial threat to Harvest Homecoming's own riverside plan (and with vastly superior beer at the pizza place) ... even a layman can grasp the nature of the tail wagging this dog. You simply will not be able to convince me that the harassment isn't coming in some part from the orangemen.

Harvest Homecoming turns a deaf ear to complaints by downtown business people, which this year better resemble the roar of jets on the tarmac. City Hall smiles benignly and seeks to avoid involvement, and the rancor multiplies as economic development effort are delineated only with regard to the industrial park, in tandem with the likes of 1Si. It's remarkably ugly behind the facades this year, but as always in a town that is terrified by the most basic discourse, the only thing for sure is that no one will be wanting to talk about it. At all. Not now, and not ever.

And that's the nature of the problem, isn't it?

In 2014, the city (and Harvest Homecoming) chose a more familiar, cleaner pre-emptive strike, denying a third request by Wick's ... and that's right, I wrote about it.

Once again, Wick's Pizza falls victim to the hegemony of the Orange Shirted Harvest Homecoming Mafia. Who runs this town, anyway?

I was told yesterday that New Albany's Board of Public Works has denied permission to Wick's Pizza for a party tent outdoors during Harvest Homecoming.

This makes three years and three differing rationales v.v. Wick's, as the establishment continues to make a good faith effort to be involved during Harvest Homecoming's booth days.

The only thing consistent about it is inconsistency, but one thing is perfectly clear: Harvest Homecoming's Orange Shirted Mafia remains the tail wagging this town's dog, and it's just plain wrong.

Harvest of honor?

Someone may wish to explain to Wick's exactly how that works.

Once again, Wick's Pizza falls victim to the hegemony of the Orange Shirted Harvest Homecoming Mafia. Who runs this town, anyway?

I was told yesterday that New Albany's Board of Public Works has denied permission to Wick's Pizza for a party tent outdoors during Harvest Homecoming.

This makes three years and three differing rationales v.v. Wick's, as the establishment continues to make a good faith effort to be involved during Harvest Homecoming's booth days.

The only thing consistent about it is inconsistency, but one thing is perfectly clear: Harvest Homecoming's Orange Shirted Mafia remains the tail wagging this town's dog, and it's just plain wrong. I'm so old that I can remember City Hall claiming involvement in arbitrating Harvest Homecoming's annual downtown havoc.

So much for that, I guess. Let's have a look back:

---

August 21, 2013

This year Wick's can have a tent during Harvest Homecoming, but in 2012, the tail was wagging the dog.

September 26, 2012

Harvest Homecoming: When the tail wags the dog, we pause.

Wick's Pizza: On the right side of New Albany street grid history.

Wick's Pizza

My two-way street project and how you can help.

HH? WTF.

In a reversal of course from 2012, this year Wick's Pizza was given permission by the city to turn the adjacent parking lots into a "fringe" fest venue operating during New Albany's annual Harvest Homecoming booth days.

Wick's proceeded to spend quite a lot of money for tents, bands, fencing, security, port-a-lets, and all the other little necessities required to stage four days of good quality, locally-based entertainment.

Having done so, Wick's has spent the week experiencing petty harassment from entities ranging from state fire marshals down through city police. The latter evidently made up new rules (see "department, health") governing what folks outside the fenced enclosure are permitted to see, lest the merriment within actually compel them to enter and partake.

The point, at least to me, is yet another indication of the prevailing disconnect during Harvest Homecoming. Having approved the Wick's plan, wouldn't you think that the city would choose to work with the business entity, rather than remain aloof while components of government (in effect) work against the approval? It predictably has infuriated the business and building owner. And yet the city is silent.

Of course, considering the time and effort put into the week by Wick's, most of us instinctively grasp that only one hegemonic structure in town would have any reason to be alarmed, this being Harvest Homecoming itself, which is allowed to occupy downtown for four days in October as the rest of us search for the precise commandment, specific ordinance or cocktail napkin memo enabling the invasive takeover.

Can we please be honest? Harvest Homecoming's extractive business model depends on several things: The city must bear the brunt of infrastructure expenses under a flimsy rationale of economic development -- a rationale that now actively contradicts the principle of downtown revival.

Also, money spent during Harvest Homecoming needs to be directed whenever possible to vendors licensed and approved by Harvest Homecoming, as well as to events held by the festival. If one has only a few days to make maximum bank, then encouraging money to be spent elsewhere downtown is not part of the game plan.

Consequently, given that the Wick's extravaganza in 2013 arguably has been a financial threat to Harvest Homecoming's own riverside plan (and with vastly superior beer at the pizza place) ... even a layman can grasp the nature of the tail wagging this dog. You simply will not be able to convince me that the harassment isn't coming in some part from the orangemen.

Harvest Homecoming turns a deaf ear to complaints by downtown business people, which this year better resemble the roar of jets on the tarmac. City Hall smiles benignly and seeks to avoid involvement, and the rancor multiplies as economic development effort are delineated only with regard to the industrial park, in tandem with the likes of 1Si. It's remarkably ugly behind the facades this year, but as always in a town that is terrified by the most basic discourse, the only thing for sure is that no one will be wanting to talk about it. At all. Not now, and not ever.

And that's the nature of the problem, isn't it?

Harvest Homecoming 2013, Part Three: Recalling 2012, and tails wagging dogs.

Tuesday: Harvest Homecoming 2013, Part Two: No longer what downtown is about.

Monday: Harvest Homecoming 2013, Part One: More evolution, less fear.

In 2012, Wick’s Pizza had an idea to stage an outdoor beer garden during Harvest Homecoming, and to share a measure of the branding with NABC. In 2012, this idea was rejected, but this year it was approved. Just recently I reprinted the third part of last year's Harvest Homecoming series, so I'll not do it again in this space. Here's the link:

This year Wick's can have a tent during Harvest Homecoming, but in 2012, the tail was wagging the dog.

The final paragraphs of the preceding suffice to reiterate my point.

"It is my belief that this story illustrates an ever-widening disconnect between the understandable self-identity (not to mention preservation instinct) of the part-time Harvest Homecoming, and the re-emergence of a full-time downtown business district with objectives, needs and identities of its own.

"Why is Harvest Homecoming still allowed to throw its weight around in this manner for a mere four days a year, when the best strategy of potential benefit for all the city’s residents is to nurture and build a downtown capable of throwing its weight around, and accruing dividends, every single day of the year?"

This year Wick's can have a tent during Harvest Homecoming, but in 2012, the tail was wagging the dog.

What a difference a year makes. 

Today in the News and Tribune, Daniel Suddeath reveals that the Board of Works has approved a request by Wick's to use the adjacent parking lot for a tent during Harvest Homecoming, and that "since Wick’s won’t be using the official logo of the festival, permission from the Harvest Homecoming committee won’t be needed in order to set up the tent."

Thank heavens for that last part. It would kill the edgy Wick's vibe to be shrouded in such stodginess. 

Curiously, last year around this time, the polar opposite reaction was forthcoming. The Wick's request was shelved. I'm reprinting in its entirety the piece published here last September. There was no valid reason for denying the request last year, and so I'm quite happy it has been granted this year. The next logical step? Active, ongoing city participation in reforming Harvest Homecoming, with or without the fest's cooperation. because it fits the emerging, revitalizing downtown street grid just like my high school basketball uniform fits me 35 years later ... which is to say, not at all.

---

Harvest Homecoming: When the tail wags the dog, we pause.

Tuesday: Harvest Homecoming: Not what downtown is about.
Monday: Harvest Homecoming: Do the evolution, don't fear the competition.

Wick’s Pizza on State Street is a popular year-round cornerstone of the independent business scene downtown, as well as a textbook example of the business model currently proving successful in revitalizing New Albany’s previously moribund downtown. Several weeks ago, Wick’s approached the New Albanian Brewing Company with the idea of staging an outdoor beer garden during Harvest Homecoming.

Because the proposed venue is the municipal parking lot adjacent to Wick’s, requiring approval from the Board of Public Works, restaurant management was careful to vet the idea with city hall in advance, and an encouraging response was given. Consequently, planning for the event began in earnest.

The plan called for music, food and beer. NABC’s role would be that of designated local craft vendor amid the customary mass-market beer, and as such, the brewery would share a small measure of the event's identity with Wick’s, including the debut of our Hoosier Daddy seasonal beer release.

I participated in two lengthy discussions with Wick’s management about procedures and legalities expected by the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, because from the standpoint of the excise police, any time is a bad one to ignore alcoholic beverage laws – and Harvest Homecoming is an even worse time to do so.

All necessary insurance and security for the event was being procured. We decided that a portion of the event’s proceeds would be donated to Open Door Youth Services, the recently renamed Floyd County Youth Service Bureau. In my estimation, the plan looked solid. Apart from the weather, all the angles were being locked down.

---

Jarringly, the Wick’s beer garden proposal was tabled by the Board of Public Works upon its first hearing after Police Chief Sherri Knight voiced concerns about security and scheduling (i.e., the number of nights the beer garden would be in operation, and how long it would run into the evening).

Wick’s Pizza immediately began addressing these concerns, and yet approval still was not forthcoming.

In the absence of coherent explanations from city hall and the board of works, it fell to Chief Knight to explain the denial in an e-mail to Wick’s management. In my opinion, this explanation is unconvincing, amounting to this (paraphrased, and not her exact words):

We cannot allow your proposal to disrupt normal Harvest Homecoming procedures downtown, given that normal Harvest Homecoming procedures already disrupt everything else downtown.

---

I remain baffled. From whence stems this reluctance on the part of the powers that be to grant Wick’s Pizza's reasonable request to lawfully expand its business during Harvest Homecoming?

Granted, the Wick’s request is muddied owing to the city’s ownership of the parking lot, one that our officials value so very highly that it’s a persistent, ill-maintained eyesore (see it here).

In this day and age, liability always is a concern, but it is hard for me to believe that city hall’s early positive signals came to Wick’s without legal consultations occurring beforehand.

To be sure, prohibitionist sentiment might be a factor in this muddled response, although I hasten to point out that despite my personally favoring the thoughtful daily application of adult beverages, plenty of folks on the planet actually manage to enjoy pizza, rock ‘n’ roll and even (shudder) elephant ears without drinking, or while drinking lightly.

If there are neo-prohibitionists in government, the Wick’s denial becomes even more curious, as the most common reaction among city officials toward drinking is that there should be a wide variety of options for doing so responsibly; if not, how do we explain the reality of the aforementioned city-sanctioned, three-way riverfront development permits, which constitute a prime tool in the arsenal of any downtown economic development agent, even if Carrie Nation disapproves from beyond the grave?

In short, the city’s elected officials boarded this by-the-drink train quite some time ago, and have supported what amounts to a providential mechanism to attract investment in downtown – moreover, one that has jump-started revitalization all by itself. In 2006, at almost no expense to the city, three-way permits were made easier and less expensive to obtain, and entirely as predicted then, the investment quickly followed. Now, inarguably, downtown New Albany is on the regional map solely because of businesses just like Wick’s Pizza.

Given this reality, isn’t it completely understandable that vanguard businesses just like Wick’s would seek to schedule special promotions and events during Harvest Homecoming?

After all, some are far better placed than others to straddle the otherwise unfavorable target demographic line; if Harvest Homecoming’s annual china shop bull is disastrous for a boutique on Pearl, at least there’s a chance that a pizza place on State can find a way to participate by promoting a crowd-pleasing shindig.

How is this unreasonable?

If it is not reasonable, why does the city first approve criteria for enabling a business like Wick’s to prosper, and then quibble over a perfectly legitimate (and legal) request to enhance its activities during Harvest Homecoming, at the same time as other businesses are doing precisely the same?

There can be only one logical answer. Harvest Homecoming’s organizers evidently do not care for these newfound, multiple and diverse points of market competition for the dollars of drinking festival attendees, because multiple points of consumer happiness threaten Harvest Homecoming’s traditionally mass-market riverfront music tent hegemony ... and the lifeblood profit it garners there. To be succinct, the more year-round options exist downtown, the less attractive Harvest Homecoming’s glacial resistance to reinvent seems.

As I’ve been writing this essay, the ironies have proliferated. The Exchange pub and eatery, soon to open on Main Street a mere stone’s throw from Wick’s Pizza, now will run its own outdoor beer garden during Harvest Homecoming. Because the event will be staged on private property, the Board of Public Works does not have jurisdiction over it, other than to warn about adherence to New Albany’s noise ordinance, which was last enforced at some point during the peak of grunge.

It’s good to know that. Maybe the police officers currently engaged in speed traps on Spring Street will start ticketing boom cars, too.

---

Yes, of course it is within the city’s powers to refuse the event request from Wick’s, and for reasons of liability alone, even if the city’s initial feedback was supportive of the beer garden idea. I must conclude that if the mayor’s own appointees in the police department and the works board rule against such a request, there wasn’t much support at the top in the first place.

Ah, but I’m far from unbiased, right?

After all, NABC is losing a chance to make a few bucks by selling locally brewed craft beer over on Main Street -- the “other” side of the Harvest Homecoming epicenter.

Except that we’ll still have our beer inside at Wick’s, just like always, and now there’ll probably be some on tap at Exchange’s temporary beer garden, too, seeing as these are business relationships we nurture year-round, and not only at Harvest Homecoming time. They see value in us, and we see value in them. That’s called reciprocity.

Indeed, I regret losing the chance to raise significant money for Open Door, although we’ll still do our best for them at Fringe Fest.

As for the “traditional” Harvest Homecoming tent set-up down by the riverside, it should suffice to observe that regional happenings ranging from Madison's RiverRoots to Lanesville’s Heritage Weekend now grasp the utility and plain good business sense of offering locally brewed craft beer to consumers in the present day and age.

Others? They have not.

It is my belief that this story illustrates an ever-widening disconnect between the understandable self-identity (not to mention preservation instinct) of the part-time Harvest Homecoming, and the re-emergence of a full-time downtown business district with objectives, needs and identities of its own.

Why is Harvest Homecoming still allowed to throw its weight around in this manner for a mere four days a year, when the best strategy of potential benefit for all the city’s residents is to nurture and build a downtown capable of throwing its weight around, and accruing dividends, every single day of the year?

Hoosier Daddy? Find out on Friday at Bridge Liquors and Wick's Pizza.

Harvest Homecoming: When the tail wags the dog, we pause.

Tuesday: Harvest Homecoming: Not what downtown is about.
Monday: Harvest Homecoming: Do the evolution, don't fear the competition.

Wick’s Pizza on State Street is a popular year-round cornerstone of the independent business scene downtown, as well as a textbook example of the business model currently proving successful in revitalizing New Albany’s previously moribund downtown. Several weeks ago, Wick’s approached the New Albanian Brewing Company with the idea of staging an outdoor beer garden during Harvest Homecoming.

Because the proposed venue is the municipal parking lot adjacent to Wick’s, requiring approval from the Board of Public Works, restaurant management was careful to vet the idea with city hall in advance, and an encouraging response was given. Consequently, planning for the event began in earnest.

The plan called for music, food and beer. NABC’s role would be that of designated local craft vendor amid the customary mass-market beer, and as such, the brewery would share a small measure of the event's identity with Wick’s, including the debut of our Hoosier Daddy seasonal beer release.

I participated in two lengthy discussions with Wick’s management about procedures and legalities expected by the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, because from the standpoint of the excise police, any time is a bad one to ignore alcoholic beverage laws – and Harvest Homecoming is an even worse time to do so.

All necessary insurance and security for the event was being procured. We decided that a portion of the event’s proceeds would be donated to Open Door Youth Services, the recently renamed Floyd County Youth Service Bureau. In my estimation, the plan looked solid. Apart from the weather, all the angles were being locked down.

---

Jarringly, the Wick’s beer garden proposal was tabled by the Board of Public Works upon its first hearing after Police Chief Sherri Knight voiced concerns about security and scheduling (i.e., the number of nights the beer garden would be in operation, and how long it would run into the evening).

Wick’s Pizza immediately began addressing these concerns, and yet approval still was not forthcoming.

In the absence of coherent explanations from city hall and the board of works, it fell to Chief Knight to explain the denial in an e-mail to Wick’s management. In my opinion, this explanation is unconvincing, amounting to this (paraphrased, and not her exact words):

We cannot allow your proposal to disrupt normal Harvest Homecoming procedures downtown, given that normal Harvest Homecoming procedures already disrupt everything else downtown.

---

I remain baffled. From whence stems this reluctance on the part of the powers that be to grant Wick’s Pizza's reasonable request to lawfully expand its business during Harvest Homecoming?

Granted, the Wick’s request is muddied owing to the city’s ownership of the parking lot, one that our officials value so very highly that it’s a persistent, ill-maintained eyesore (see it here).

In this day and age, liability always is a concern, but it is hard for me to believe that city hall’s early positive signals came to Wick’s without legal consultations occurring beforehand.

To be sure, prohibitionist sentiment might be a factor in this muddled response, although I hasten to point out that despite my personally favoring the thoughtful daily application of adult beverages, plenty of folks on the planet actually manage to enjoy pizza, rock ‘n’ roll and even (shudder) elephant ears without drinking, or while drinking lightly.

If there are neo-prohibitionists in government, the Wick’s denial becomes even more curious, as the most common reaction among city officials toward drinking is that there should be a wide variety of options for doing so responsibly; if not, how do we explain the reality of the aforementioned city-sanctioned, three-way riverfront development permits, which constitute a prime tool in the arsenal of any downtown economic development agent, even if Carrie Nation disapproves from beyond the grave?

In short, the city’s elected officials boarded this by-the-drink train quite some time ago, and have supported what amounts to a providential mechanism to attract investment in downtown – moreover, one that has jump-started revitalization all by itself. In 2006, at almost no expense to the city, three-way permits were made easier and less expensive to obtain, and entirely as predicted then, the investment quickly followed. Now, inarguably, downtown New Albany is on the regional map solely because of businesses just like Wick’s Pizza.

Given this reality, isn’t it completely understandable that vanguard businesses just like Wick’s would seek to schedule special promotions and events during Harvest Homecoming?

After all, some are far better placed than others to straddle the otherwise unfavorable target demographic line; if Harvest Homecoming’s annual china shop bull is disastrous for a boutique on Pearl, at least there’s a chance that a pizza place on State can find a way to participate by promoting a crowd-pleasing shindig.

How is this unreasonable?

If it is not reasonable, why does the city first approve criteria for enabling a business like Wick’s to prosper, and then quibble over a perfectly legitimate (and legal) request to enhance its activities during Harvest Homecoming, at the same time as other businesses are doing precisely the same?

There can be only one logical answer. Harvest Homecoming’s organizers evidently do not care for these newfound, multiple and diverse points of market competition for the dollars of drinking festival attendees, because multiple points of consumer happiness threaten Harvest Homecoming’s traditionally mass-market riverfront music tent hegemony ... and the lifeblood profit it garners there. To be succinct, the more year-round options exist downtown, the less attractive Harvest Homecoming’s glacial resistance to reinvent seems.

As I’ve been writing this essay, the ironies have proliferated. The Exchange pub and eatery, soon to open on Main Street a mere stone’s throw from Wick’s Pizza, now will run its own outdoor beer garden during Harvest Homecoming. Because the event will be staged on private property, the Board of Public Works does not have jurisdiction over it, other than to warn about adherence to New Albany’s noise ordinance, which was last enforced at some point during the peak of grunge.

It’s good to know that. Maybe the police officers currently engaged in speed traps on Spring Street will start ticketing boom cars, too.

---

Yes, of course it is within the city’s powers to refuse the event request from Wick’s, and for reasons of liability alone, even if the city’s initial feedback was supportive of the beer garden idea. I must conclude that if the mayor’s own appointees in the police department and the works board rule against such a request, there wasn’t much support at the top in the first place.

Ah, but I’m far from unbiased, right?

After all, NABC is losing a chance to make a few bucks by selling locally brewed craft beer over on Main Street -- the “other” side of the Harvest Homecoming epicenter.

Except that we’ll still have our beer inside at Wick’s, just like always, and now there’ll probably be some on tap at Exchange’s temporary beer garden, too, seeing as these are business relationships we nurture year-round, and not only at Harvest Homecoming time. They see value in us, and we see value in them. That’s called reciprocity.

Indeed, I regret losing the chance to raise significant money for Open Door, although we’ll still do our best for them at Fringe Fest.

As for the “traditional” Harvest Homecoming tent set-up down by the riverside, it should suffice to observe that regional happenings ranging from Madison's RiverRoots to Lanesville’s Heritage Weekend now grasp the utility and plain good business sense of offering locally brewed craft beer to consumers in the present day and age.

Others? They have not.

It is my belief that this story illustrates an ever-widening disconnect between the understandable self-identity (not to mention preservation instinct) of the part-time Harvest Homecoming, and the re-emergence of a full-time downtown business district with objectives, needs and identities of its own.

Why is Harvest Homecoming still allowed to throw its weight around in this manner for a mere four days a year, when the best strategy of potential benefit for all the city’s residents is to nurture and build a downtown capable of throwing its weight around, and accruing dividends, every single day of the year?

Wickliffe: "I must give this town an A plus rating in the way it has treated my company and I."

Many times over the years, we've observed that non-native New Albanians often seem better tuned to the possibilities than those "from here." Arguably the best current example of this admittedly non-scientific observation is Mike Wickliffe. Reprinted below is the current issue of "The Wick Report," which illustrates that Wickliffe must not be on CFA's mailing list for pessimism and disinformation. Make no mistake: Not all New Albanians pull for the city to fail, and many are capable and see the bigger picture. Nonetheless, I especially appreciate what Mike has brought to downtown, and I appreciate his commitment. It's very impressive.

---

If everyone does not know my name is Michael Wickliffe and I am the owner of Wicks. I have been writing this goofy newsletter for a while now and I would like to thank all of you for taking the time to either read it or delete it from your e mail. With that being said I hope every one of you all cash a winning ticket this Derby, because with your help it seems like I have had a winning derby ticket every year. Thanks to all of you for supporting your local best of Louisville Wicks Pizza and Pub.

This Derby is not any different here at Wicks except that it will be the first Derby for our new store in Indiana. We are currently remodeling the second floor of this building. It is coming out better than I could have ever imagined. We will be adding another 5000 square feet of party space to this location. We are putting in a big new stage and we are adding a private party room for up to 100 people. You will be able to do power point presentations on a projection television and we will have a great stereo system in there. This is going to be a great new addition to the ever growing city of New Albany. I must give this town an A plus rating in the way it has treated my company and I. Big shout out to the mayor and his staff. If you have not been to this location the building is a treat in itself. Being built in 1866 and still with the original front doors, this building is fun to walk through.

Derby eve and Derby night the only place to be is in the highlands. That is where you will catch all of the locals having a good time. Let all the crazy people from out of town hang out downtown at the old Galleria. But if you cannot make it to Baxter, all of our family owned Wicks will have the best local musicians kicking it for you this Derby weekend. So get a sitter for the kids, or what the heck bring them out with you. They just cannot enjoy an ice cold beer, but they will love the pizza.

We have great specials at all 5 of our family owned and operated Wicks Pizzas. You can check out our newly redone website at www.wickspizza.com. They will have all the specials we have at our 5 locations. And you can check out our band calendars to see who is playing at your local Wicks Pizza and Pub.

We at wicks wish all of our great customers a very happy Kentucky Derby. Please make sure you wear your seat belts, and drink responsible!

Thanks for your business and Happy Derby,

Michael Wickliffe

Wick's Pizza on State is illuminated as opening day draws near.

Photos above courtesy of Mike Kopp, below from the senior editor.

Wick's should be open tomorrow (Wednesday), having received ATC alcohol license approval today. This is a guess, not an official announcement! The opening comes just in time for a Harvest Homecoming look-see, so get down to 225 State Street and welcome the business to New Albany.

For a look at what Wick's has been doing all these years in Louisville, visit the company's web site.

The following were snapped earlier today -- there's a huge crew in the building, and dough in the walk-in. The beer comes only after the state's permission slip. First is the new southerly bar (constructed from bricks and timbers found in the basement), then an original window now being used as overhead decor, and finally the new carry-out counter built along the northern wall.

Wick's Pizza remodeling is described.

Last week, I stopped by the former Speakeasy to see how the remodeling is coming along as Wick's Pizza prepares to open on October 7. Because the camera was left at home, you'll have to rely on these written descriptions.

The bar side is largely unchanged, with the exception of a banquette built into the rear right-hand side, by the kitchen entrance.

In the south sector where the stage used to be, there is now an attractive rectangular bar area constructed from original brick and copper sheets. The bar top is being made from the same rock-solid, ancient poplar boards used on the elbow bars at Bank Street Brewhouse.

A walk-in has been built in the rear left corner and enclosed by brick and drywall. Draft beer will be stored within, and a long-draw glycol draft system installed to carry the beer to the bars. Wick's evaded interference from the Hour (Tower?) of Power on Main by means of the ATC's historic district (HD) permit exemption, which apparently offers better terms than the prevailing quota but isn't quite as good as the riverfront development exemption.

(Will the ACLU please contest the ridiculous "too near a church" provision in Indiana's alcohol rulebook? I can't think of a more egregious example of spitting in the face of church-state separation than allowing a church to impede our right to drink alcoholic beverages.)

Wick's is completely re-equipping the kitchen, and all the remaining kitchen equipment from Speakeasy times has been purchased and removed for use at another developing downtown location with a Mexican theme, i.e., the new La Rosita's location at the southeastern corner of Spring and Pearl. I'm told the Rosita's relocation is a done deal, although there are no "done by" projections.

You'll see this paragraph in my Thursday Tribune column:

We’re now seeing the result take shape. It’s an organic, local, homegrown restaurant and bar quarter, one made possible largely without the far more expensive expedient of paying the Cordish Company to import cookie-cutter chains.

With the advent of Toast on Market (September 29) and Wick's Pizza, and with the impending La Rosita's move, it seems to me that most of the elements are in place. It's time now for a collective marketing effort.

Any volunteers to herd the cats?

Wick's has an ATC hearing and will open on October 7 ... and an excellent LEO review for the Windsor.

According to the legal notices in Tuesday's Tribune, the owners of Wick's have a spot on the agenda during the next local alcoholic beverage board meeting on Tuesday, October 6.

HD2226179 RETAILER - BEER, WINE AND LIQUOR NEW STATE STREET WICKS LLC, 225 STATE ST, NEW ALBANY D/B/A WICKS PIZZA & PUB

I'd have predicted an October 7 opening date, but the newspaper's Daniel Suddeath beat me to it on Twitter earlier this evening.

In other downtown news, the Windsor Restaurant and Garden scored a great review by veteran food writer Robin Garr in Wednesday's LEO Weekly.

Young co-chefs Justin McMillen and Cory Cuff were barely old enough to legally sample their own wine list when the classy dining room and bar, with its lovable New Orleans-style patio, reopened in the old New Albany Inn last year.

Their style belies their age, with a sophisticated and consistently well-prepared evening menu and a fine, simpler set of soup, salad and sandwiches at the noonday hour.

It’s well worth the trip, even for Hoosier-wary Kentuckians.

Finally, it appears that Liquidz, a bar projected for Main Street, is not to be. I learned Wednesday night that the prospective operators have been unable to secure financing, and the sign pictured here back in June is gone. According to the rumorama, the plan had been to ask for permission to paint the building flagrant purple and open a gay bar. Maybe some day.

Previously at NAC: Toast on Market sez: Open September 29.

Toast on Market sez: Open September 29.

The good news is that Toast on Market will be open soon. The bad news is that I (still) can't take good photos.

The sign says: "Open September 29, 7:00 a.m." That's a Tuesday.

There is a phone number to call for those interested in employment: "Apply within 9 am - 2 pm, or call 812-941-8582."

The hours are just barely visible to the left on the door: Closed Monday, open 7:00 a.m. otherwise from Tuesday through Sunday, closing at 2 or 3 in the afternoon.

I haven't heard any recently updated scoops on Wick's Pizza, to be located in the building that formerly housed the Speakeasy, although my assumption is a first Tuesday of October date with the state's alcohol regulatory authorities and an opening soon thereafter.

Better hurry, before Papa Cappuccino does the copperhead shake and takes away the riverfront development district. Perhaps he plans on swapping it for an autioneer's license.

Wick's debut in New Albany to be slightly delayed.

An extended excerpt, and for one reason only. See below.

Wick’s Pizza opening in New Albany pushed back to fall, by Daniel Suddeath (News and Tribune).

The owner of Wick’s Pizza Inc. said it will likely be the end of September when the Louisville-based restaurant chain opens its New Albany location.

Getting a state liquor license has been the holdup, according to owner Michael Wickliffe, as he originally eyed a late summer opening date for a New Albany Wick’s.

The restaurant will fill the former Speakeasy bar and jazz club building at 225 State St. Located within a historic district, Wick’s is eligible for alcohol permits designated for the riverfront area, of which there are only a certain number allotted for New Albany.

The Speakeasy’s permit was voided after it closed. The permits cost $1,000 plus an annual renewal fee.

Mayor Doug England said administration helps restaurants seeking permits by petitioning the state on behalf of the establishment.

“What we’re trying to do is spur the economy,” England said, adding that when New Albany’s permits run out, he plans on asking the state for more than what was originally portioned, similar to Clarksville.

Here's the confusing part for me: I spent a good twenty minutes this morning reading the Indiana code (something I wouldn't recommend to anyone interested in preserving his or her sanity), and I still cannot see the relationship between the number of permits (10) permitted in a historic district defined by fairly esoteric criteria (the presence of an opera house?), and the subsequent passage detailing the riverfront development area guidelines.

The riverfront development passage does not refer back to the historic district description, and by my reading, I can't see that there is a limit on the number of three-ways. But I don't doubt that City Hall is on top of it, either. Perhaps this is the reason why the Brewers of Indiana Guild retains an attorney to interpret, although I don't want to squander the retainer asking him the answer because it doesn't matter that much.

It's my guess that by autumn, downtown is going to somewhere near a practical limit for establishments vending alcoholic beverages. Maybe not, and there's still room for a martini bar and port lodge.

I know we have lawyerly readers, and if you're one, are you reading the Indiana codes the same way as I am?

These seem to be the relevant passages:

IC 7.1-3-20-16
Airport restaurants; restaurants in certain economic development areas; redevelopment projects or districts, historic river vessels, cultural centers, historic districts

IC 7.1-3-20-16.1
Municipal riverfront development project; alcoholic beverage permit requirements

Dueling Grounds coffee shop (at Destinations Booksellers) and a downtown status report from Mike Kopp.

Randy Smith at Destinations Booksellers provides this look at progress toward completing the store's coffee shop project (both at 604 E. Spring St.) Contact Randy with questions.

Coffee Shop Update

There's a certain amount of madness, or as one local political aspirant would say, a "curtain" level of craziness going on right now. If you haven't visited recently, you will have missed the new construction work, but that's nothing compared to what's in store over the next two months.

I'm trying to run the store (luckily, we've hired some great new employees to work with Mark and Sophie) while planning a full kitchen build-out and we've just about finalized all of our equipment selections for the new coffee shop. It will be called The Dueling Grounds Café at Destinations Booksellers, and despite previous conjectures, we're going to incorporate the shop into the bookstore building. Next year, we'll probably build a deck out back for al fresco dining where you can enjoy your hot or cold beverages, soups, sandwiches, and desserts.

We're trying to get our final plan drawings completed in the next few days so we can submit them to the state building inspector's office and then we can begin the construction of the kitchen and coffee bar. You smarties who've discovered the rear parking lot may want to avoid the back entrance for awhile, though. We'll be sealing off everything south of my office while the build-out takes place.

While I'm committed to roasting our beans on-site, the capital expenditure right now is enormous, and we are giving strong consideration to sourcing our roasted beans from one of the fine local roasters until next year.

Mike Kopp, local realtor and president of Develop New Albany, recently circulated the following to DNA’s mailing list.

It's official: HobKnobb Coffee will be landing downtown at the former Joy's Coffee Nook on State Street (near State and Spring). Owner Barb Fischer will offer basically what she has at her other location in Floyds Knobs, and I think it will be a welcomed establishment with a good product.

Also official: The vacant building at 501 Pearl Street (formerly the John Vernia & Son Monument Co at the corner of Pearl and Elm) has sold and chances are if you drove by today you will see improvements already being made. This space is being prepared for office occupancy and may be completed by the end of October with a new tenant.

Though we have not closed on the building, there is a new owner coming to spruce up the service station at the corner of Oak and State Streets (former known as EZ Auto). This will be a new look, and it is planned for an official NAPA Auto Center. They, too, will be a U-Haul center but the new owners plan to provide fresh landscaping, renovation and a new look for the entire building, including resurfacing the parking lot and all new lighting for property as well. This will be noticed by September 1st.

A major retailer has downtown New Albany in its sights, so we're still in the running. These folks are out of Chicago and will need 5-10k square feet. They are an “apparel and more” retailer. This will not happen until after the first of the year, should I be successful in convincing them this is where they belong.

Liquidz Bar and Grill will be opening soon at the former Russ's Tavern on E. Main Street (between Pearl and Bank), and 211 E. Main (formerly Ermin’s and B & B, next to Studio’s) is the new location for the Redmens Club as Steinert’s moves in to their new location at 401 E. Main, which had been constructed by the Redmen in 2005.

The Parthenon at 203 E. Main continues to get a facelift as the columns are being repaired, and is it being made ready for a new tenant to be announced. There are new tenants at the southeast corner of Pearl and E Main (Merchants National Bank building). It is a spa of some kind, and that’s all I know, as I did not do the deal. The people from Louisville’s Green Building hope to meet with the city this week, as we have requested an appointment. They have their eyes on the Baptist Tabernacle Church (318 E. 4th) and the Reisz Building on Main Street.

Be sure to participate in one or all of the happenings in downtown. Great things continue to be said about our Farmers Market and the new activity on Fridays at the Amphitheater. Help clear up a few things: Both Wick’s Pizza in the former Speakeasy building on State, and Toast on Market on E. Market will be open soon, and both will have liquor licenses.

C-J sez: "Wick's Pizza is expanding to New Albany."

I've recently toyed with breaking this story, and decided in the end to wait for the "official" announcement, local media-style.

Wick's Pizza is expanding to New Albany, by Grace Schneider (Courier-Journal).

Wick's Pizza Inc., a locally owned chain in Louisville, is preparing to open a restaurant in downtown New Albany.

The store, the fifth Wick's location, is expected to open by late July at 225 State St., the former location of Speakeasy, a restaurant and live jazz club.

It's big, all right. Whether you like Wick's Pizza Parlor & Pub or not, there's no disputing the company's iconic Louisville status. To many people, Wick's epitomizes the Highlands (its original location) and is significant in a way that chain-mad Bearno's or Joe's OK Bayou simply are not. Iconic Louisville businesses tend not to come to New Albany. This is groundbreaking, indeed.

This announcement is wonderful, but it doesn't come without red flags. I hope to see the Highlands vibe, not the atmosphere cultivated at the Wick's location on Dixie Highway, with its Ms. Miller Lite bikini contests, karaoke and fight club promos. One does what one must do to survive. Let's hope that survival in New Albany can be achieved along a, er, higher road.

Make no mistake: I'm for Wick's being downtown.

I look forward to selling them beer. And, as IAH noted earlier today, the owners of Wick's noticed all those people congregating around the YMCA, a observation that puts the lie (as if we needed more proof) to the persistent troglodyte urban legend that the Y itself could not draw people downtown.

Private investment is doing its part. Now, the city needs to do its part: Two-way streets, repaving, and infrastructure investments. It's a partnership, Erika. That's the way it works in places that are functional. Perhaps it might yet work here, council permitting.