Driven by a desire to preserve the history of a former downtown car dealership while tackling the intense afternoon sun, a popular Galesburg brew pub and event center has enhanced its 4,500-square-foot patio with decorative and functional stained glass panels.
Three stained panels—featuring shades of yellow, gray, and black—were recently installed on the west-facing side of Reserve Artisan Ales, 185 S. Kellogg St. While the stained glass is new, the panels that hold it were original to the building that once housed a Ford dealership and garage.
Rob Benedict and his son Blake Benedict, the latter a co-owner of Reserve Artisan Ales with his brother Trent, said the newly installed stained glass panels have received positive reviews.
Blake said news of the stained glass panels “blew up” on social media, while Rob noted, “So far, everyone I have talked to has been very impressed.”
Rob Benedict said the inspiration behind the stained glass project started when they began demolition and renovation of the structure, which is now home to both Reserve Artisan Ales and the attached event venue The Vault.
“I saw those stained glass windows and knew I wanted to keep them for something, though I wasn’t sure what,” Benedict said. Initially considering them as indoor art, the plan shifted when the afternoon sun began glaring across the patio, prompting a creative solution.
Though about half of the window frames were discarded due to rust or rot, the Benedicts still have five or six more to repurpose.
The panels fill in the archway perfectly,” Rob noted, adding that the next step is to test their durability against wind and weather.
He said the installation, handled by retired barber Pat Napier, has added a historic touch that patrons are already praising.
“It’s always meant a lot to maintain the history of that structure,” Rob said, reflecting his family’s goal to bolster downtown vitality. The stained glass project also connects to their efforts, like using a restored 1960s-era Peoria city bus as a pour your own wall with up to 30 varieties of beer and sodas in the taproom.
The family is now exploring options for the building they own across the street to the west, most recently home to West Central Community Head Start.
Rob Benedict said a structural engineer is exploring possibilities—Airbnb lodging, retail, or even relocating the brew house to meet The Vault’s growing demand.
“There’s no downtown lodging for when we have out-of-town guests come for weddings at The Vault, so our main priority is to turn that into some kind of lodging,” he said.
