Our Story

A legacy from 1871 to today.

Barrelhouse The Venue resides on the historic Zorn campus in Michigan City’s Elston Grove District — a building with more than 150 years of Northwest Indiana history.

1871

A Dream Built in 1871

Constructed in 1871 by Bavarian immigrant Philip H. Zorn Jr., Barrelhouse The Venue resides on the historic Zorn campus. As an annex to the original brewery, it manufactured beer barrels to house fresh beer prior to distribution around Northwest Indiana. Though unoccupied now, the original icehouse, brew-house, and malting building still stand across the street — a reminder of the dream Philip Zorn brought with him to America.

1938

Prohibition takes its toll.

Unfortunately, Philip H. Zorn Jr.’s success was put on hold by the passing of Prohibition. P.H. Zorn Brewing Co. hung on bottling soda — “Zoro” — until Prohibition was repealed, but the damage was done, and the building was abandoned.

2019

A dream, rebuilt.

For decades the building sat empty. Many tried to revive the space as offices or food retailers, to little success. That changed in 2019 when NWI Development Group acquired 113 York Street and began building a dream. Barrelhouse The Venue was restored to include a large, open event space, a bridal suite that converts to a private dining room, a beautiful bar and outdoor patio, plus upscale apartments on the second floor. The original brickwork, timbers, and floors were exposed, period-appropriate doors installed, and a beautiful arched doorway uncovered along the way.