Domažlice begins the reconstruction of the brewery into a restaurant and club

Domažlice - Domažlice has already started working on the reconstruction of the brewery, closed for 12 years, into a restaurant and cultural center, all for 40 million crowns. However, the city no longer counts on a hotel. The brewery would obtain 15 million crowns by selling land to the neighboring investor Kaufland and will apply for money for the multifunctional cultural scene in February from the European ROP program. The brewery is set to open in May 2010 and part of the cultural center in 2011, said Domažlice mayor Miroslav Mach to ČTK.
    "The brewery is clear. The project for the use of the building for the cultural scene is currently being drawn up," said Mach. Its centerpiece will be a two-story club space for theater, music, and recital productions.
    The city is now negotiating with Plzeň's InterCora, which is building Kaufland on the neighboring plot. "Since there will be no hotel, we can free up 11 parking spaces for them, for which we have been promised 15 million crowns for the brewery," said Mach. According to the city hall, it is not possible to apply for EU money for it. The sale of the land to the Kaufland investor will be approved by the council by the end of the year.
    "With that money, we would build and operate the brewery ourselves, or with someone, or we would lease it," said Mach. However, the city hall insists that it will hold a majority stake to ensure the brewery remains under city ownership.
    Domažlice is already negotiating technology with three manufacturers of brewery equipment. For example, with Pivo Praha and Plzeň’s Lukr, financial investors are also interested in the project. The brewing technology will cost eight million crowns, and the rest of the 15 million crowns will be consumed by the restaurant.
    The cultural center would cost 25 million crowns. The city hall is already preparing documentation for the zoning decision, which it will apply for by the end of November.
    A gallery will be created in the five-story building, where brewing vessels and fermentation tanks were previously located in the brewery, which, founded in 1341, is one of the oldest in Europe. The ground floor will house a microbrewery and restaurant facilities, one floor up will have a kitchen, exhibits, demonstrations of technology, and sales of souvenirs.
    Further floors will serve as a gallery. The city is already negotiating collaboration with the Špillar Gallery and others. The top floor and the attic would be for the multifunctional scene.
    It will be a small cultural space for lectures and corporate training, added Mach.