A family favorite restaurant in downtown Champaign appears to be closing its doors for good.
Destihl, a gastropub and brew pub located in the heart of downtown Champaign since 2011, has been shuttered since April 1.
Several employees took to social media to report the closing. A Facebook post by the Champaign restaurant’s former executive chef Chris Alwes written on Monday night says, “On this day it has been decided, by the higher ups, that Destihl will cease operations in it’s Champaign location. (sic)”
But that wasn’t the only evidence that Destihl’s Champaign location will not continue.
Destihl’s Champaign Facebook page has been removed, and all mentions of the Champaign location on the company’s website have been scrubbed. As this news broke late Monday night, we were not able to reach anyone with the company.
Some may be holding out hope that Destihl’s plans to develop a new location at Carle at the Fields, as was announced last year, will still come to fruition. That doesn’t appear to be happening, either.
Sources told chambanamoms.com earlier this month that no construction permits had been filed specifically for the proposed Destihl project fit-out in southwest Champaign — and that predated the current situation with the pandemic. (Fit out is the process of making commercial tenant interior space suitable for occupation.)
In February of 2019, Destihl announced plans to move to Carle at the Fields by summer 2020. The reason cited for the move: the need to expand. The proposed DESTIHL Restaurant & Brew Works location at Carle at the Fields was supposed to have private dining and event spaces, lakeside patio dining and lounge area, a brewhouse, a separate carry-out entrance, a full bar and more seating.
Its current lease at M2, centrally located in downtown Champaign at the corner of Neil and Main Streets. ends in February 2021.
The restaurant’s Google page says that the Champaign location is “permanently closed.”
Destihl was founded in Normal, where its headquarters remain. The company had two locations there; only one is currently open with curbside service.
The latest opening at Carle at the Fields was Haymakers gas station and convenience store, which opened in February.
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