CLARIFICATION 9 a.m. Thursday: Defiance Brewery will be adding a location, not relocating, as the headline previously indicated. Hays Post apologizes for the error.
By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
Hays residents quickly expressed surprise on social media Tuesday following the announcement that a popular Hays restaurant will close its doors at the end of the year.
Gutch's Bar and Grill, 111 W. Seventh, made the announcement on Facebook Tuesday.
But the building will not be empty long.
Many of the plans are continuing to be worked out, but owner Ken Gottschalk said Wednesday that another local business will expand into the space.
"Now is the time for me to do something if I am going to," he said. "So it's going to be Defiance Brewing Company Downtown."
Defiance Brewing opened at its current location at 2050 Old U.S. 40 in 2013, later opening a small taproom.
"Since I am the president of Defiance, I thought, 'Well, let's just move it here,' " Gottschalk said. "I am the general manager at Defiance, so it all goes hand-in-hand."
The new establishment will offer food and pizza, as well as Defiance beer.
He said the move will bring something new and different downtown.
"I think it would be good for Defiance," he said. "Defiance has a good product and I think it will be easier to get to down here."
Many of the details are being worked out, but Gottschalk said a change will be good in the location.
"I've been here 16 years, so it's kind of time," he said. "And so I think it's Defiance time."
He said he will continue to be involved with the business, but in what capacity also remains to be worked out as plans solidify.
"The first thing is, is to get things done, so we are going to start working on it at the first of the year," Gottschalk said. "I want to make sure everybody understands that we are moving slowly, one step at a time."
