02/08/2022: Old Illinois Bell Telephone building may see new life

Bank of Madison County may move in to site once on track to become brewery

EDWARDSVILLE – The past two years detoured plans for a 4 Hands Brewing Company to open at 119 South Main Street, which has been vacant for many years. A second 4 Hands Brewery will open but not in Edwardsville, Madison County or even Illinois.

Sometime after April 2020, after the alpha wave of the COVID-19 pandemic swept the country, a deal for a 4 Hands Brewery in Edwardsville fell through as people shut themselves at home and restaurants began to lay off staff and close.

James Arnold, the city’s economic and community development director, confirmed the deal fell through and per other reports, Kirkwood, a St. Louis County suburb, now will benefit from the brewery’s second location, which plans to open sometime this fall.

Arnold said the Bank of Belleville, or specifically, a division of the bank, Bank of Madison County, bought the Edwardsville building in late summer or early fall of 2020.

“They are moving forward with an interior and exterior remodel that will allow for a drive-through if everything is approved by the Historical Preservation Commission (HPC),” he said. “They want to begin construction immediately after approvals in the hopes of being in the building [in August] and open by September.”

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