Main Street Warsaw presented Anthology Whiskey Room owner Dave Gustafson with a $10,000 facade grant on Monday, June 16. It was a reimbursement to him to cover part of the expenses of adding a patio to the front of the business. From left are MSW Board Member Cindy Dobbins, MSW Downtown Development Director Terry Sweeney, Gustafson, Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce President and CEO and MSW Executive Director Rob Parker and Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce Events Coordinator Nora Christiansen. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Patrons of Anthology Whiskey Room may enjoy beverages on an outside patio, thanks to Main Street Warsaw.

Main Street Warsaw presented owner Dave Gustafson with a $10,000 facade grant on Monday, June 16, written out to his Urban Retrend LLC.

To receive the grant, Gustafson had to invest at least the same amount financially. He said the total project cost around $42,000.

The new patio area encompasses what “used to be large glass retail display cases … and there was a ramp that went from the door down to the sidewalk,” he said.

“We created a new floor system and a new wall here, new ceiling and sort of just exposed the whole space to the outdoors,” said Gustafson.

Anthology opened in its current location at 109 and 111 E. Center St., last year. The patio is in front of the 111 E. Center St. side.

Work began on it in February, with the patio open just in time for MSW’s May Third Friday and Kosciusko County Velo Cycling Club’s Fat & Skinny Tire Fest.

Gustafson noted he’s “had several hospitality spaces in the past.”

“Adding outdoor seating was just an essential part of making it the space that we wanted to for our guest experience,” he said of adding the patio to Anthology. “Obviously when the weather turns in the Midwest, everyone wants to be outside and I think it just adds a really beneficial environment for our guests to enjoy and … as other parts of the downtown are activated, you can participate rather than being stuck inside.”

Anthology is open 4 p.m. to around 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with Gustafson stating the business should also be open those same hours Tuesday through Saturday starting in a few weeks.

Gustafson noted Anthology has “1,500 whiskeys in stock and a very large wine list that we’re about to carry.”