NOLA to get new CBD beverage museum

The Sazerac Company recently purchased two buildings on the corner of Canal and Magazine streets, with plans to convert them into a visitor attraction and a New Orleans-centric beverage museum. The museums’s premiere exhibits will showcase the native New Orleans cocktail, Sazerac.

“We simply could not be happier than to have the opportunity to restore such beautiful buildings to their former glory, in a perfect location, so close to the original site of the Sazerac Coffee House that will act as our future New Orleans homeplace,” said Mark Brown, president and chief executive officer of the Sazerac Company, in a news release.

Courtesy of Sazerac Company

The buildings, located on the corner of Canal and Magazine streets, have been vacant for more than 30 years.

The property was built in the mid-1800s. The building’s distinguishable characteristics include original wood floors, high ceilings and beautiful ornate columns throughout the building. The two facilities total to 50,000 square feet.

Courtesy of Sazerac Company

The Sazerac Company said it will try to retain as many of the buildings original attributes as possible during the sites rehabilitation.

The property was previously co-owned by Starwood Hotels and Met Life. The Sazernac Company has not disclosed a purchase price of the two buildings.

The Sazerac House design will be led by local historic preservation architects Trapolin-Peer. Ryan Gootee will serve as the general contractor for the project.

Plans are currently being finalized. Construction for the new project is expected to be completed by 2018