Known for finely crafted spirits and whisky, Balcone’s Distillery has become widely known across the nation as a premier Texas distillery that is breaking new ground in the industry. The locally grown company was created in 2008 and began production in 2009. Originally housed in a different historic structure–an old welding shop under a Waco bridge–Balcone’s made a significant move downtown to increase potential production. Now housed in the 65,000 sq ft former Texas Fireproof Storage Company building on the corner of 8th and Mary Streets, the distillery has majorly expanded its operations and has become a great addition to the entertainment options in Waco for well over a decade now.
There is not much known about the original company, Texas Fireproof Storage Co. It was incorporated in 1947 and was eventually dissolved in 1984. Its main service was renting safes and lockers for people’s valuables like important documents or even mink coats for protection from possible destruction within their private homes. The essential characteristic was of course that the construction of the building was fireproof and relied heavily on brick and metal to reduce fire risk. With this less common building method at the time, a company like this was a sure way to ensure personal items were protected.
With less historic significance, the Balcone’s building has other aspects of its preservation that resonate as a genuine case study. The creative adaptation of major warehouse space into a viable distillery business is a prime example of how new economic opportunities can be made from the historic pre-built environment. The idea is efficient, effective, and even suits the purposes of the piping and stills without needing drastic construction changes. Vision of this kind can be highly valuable when considering the possibilities for historic reuse. Not every property that is considered a landmark can become a museum or rental space for events–despite those options being useful. Though possibly unassuming on the outside as a very rectangular brick building, Balcone’s team saw potential in the rustic style and integrated it into their resulting business model and aesthetic. They also are a local start-up and closely involve themselves with the community by hosting larger events on-site. It brought new life into the area and to the vacant building that was standing unused on a main busy corner of downtown Waco.