News
Brewery backers pleased with banquet sellout
Brewery backers pleased with banquet sellout
More than 300 tickets sell for event to aid in the restoration of Potosi landmark
by Craig Reber
POTOSI, Wis. - Green Bay Packers season tickets and the upcoming inaugural Potosi Brewery Foundation Restoration Fund banquet have something in common they're sold out.
More than 300 tickets, selling for $50 each, were available for the Feb. 4 banquet at Dickeyville's Sunset Hall. They proved to be a hot sell. Because of the seating capacity, the foundation's board of directors had to set an attendance limit of 332. Three hundred people can be seated. The money will be used to renovate the historic Potosi Brewery building.
"I was totally surprised," said Frank Fiorenza, Potosi Brewery Foundation vice president, "When we started the project, and talked about tickets at $50 a person, I thought how could we possibly make this happen? A month ahead of time, and the tickets were gone."
Each of the 15 foundation board of directors members were asked to sell 10 tickets. Fiorenza sold more than 45.
In early 2001, the non-profit Potosi Brewery Foundation kicked off a fund-raising campaign for the Potosi Brewery building.
The foundation recently established a long-term use committee to plan the building's future.
The building, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, dates to 1852, with additions in 1916 and 1933. In 1933, the Potosi Brewery was one of 79 operating in Wisconsin; it made beer until 1972. During its heyday, the brewery was Potosi's largest employer and the Potosi brand was well-known.
Hopes are for the foundation to raise $900,000.
Plans call for an eating establishment, a microbrewery, a Potosi Brewery museum and national brewery museum. There also is space for further development.
Last year, the foundation received a $150,000 state grant, but $120,000 of that must be matched.
Fiorenza said the project benefits not only Potosi, but the collective tri-state area's tourism industry. He added that Dubuque's riverfront project will have a positive impact on southwest Wisconsin .
The Feb. 4 banquet tips off at 5:30 p.m. with dinner scheduled for 7.
Ticket holders receive two Holiday Beer glasses, a meal and chances to win a door prize of one of seven Remington 870 Express shotguns. There will be fundraising and auction items available throughout the event. The banquet is similar to those conducted by Wings Over Wisconsin and Ducks Unlimited.
Fiorenza said that even though tickets are sold out, there's a waiting list on a first-come, first served basis, if they happen to become available.
"I don't think that will happen, especially now," Fiorenza mid. "I doubt if anything will turn up, but we'll be happy to put their name on the list."
Fiorenza praised banquet sponsors, area businesses and individuals who provided fund-raising items.
"The list of sponsors just exceeded my wildest expectations," he said.
©2002 Telegraph Herald
