The team behind Lake Monster Brewing, including Matthew Lange, Matthew Zanetti, and Jeremy Maynor, announced they will be opening a distillery, cocktail bar, and pizza concept, King Coil Spirits, this summer in the Midway neighborhood of St. Paul. Located across the plaza from Lake Monster Brewing, King Coil is currently under construction in the historic Vandalia Tower on Vandalia Street.
“We are thrilled to open another business at Vandalia Tower,” says Matt Zanetti cofounder and chief operating officer of King Coil Spirits. “With its central location and great outdoor space, it’s proven to be a huge asset for Lake Monster Brewing, and we believe the addition of King Coil Spirits will further cement Vandalia Tower as a go-to destination for food and beverage in the Twin Cities.”
Matthew Lange, cofounder and brewmaster at Lake Monster, will take on the role of the head distiller at King Coil Spirits. Experimenting with tinctures, botanicals, and infusions for more than a decade, he has developed a list of spirits needed to bring King Coil’s cocktail menu to life. With a selection of house-made gin, rum, vodka, blended whiskies, and around 20 liqueurs, the cocktail menu is designed to offer something for everyone. Additionally, one 750-milliliter bottle per customer will be available for purchase to take home.
“As an entrepreneur, I can be a little bit restless, always looking for a new challenge,” says Lange. “Brewing was my first passion, but I have a huge interest in cocktails and spirits, so transitioning into distilling is a logical next step.”
Roman-style pizza will be available for table service inside the distillery along with takeout. Known for its rectangular shape, pizza will be offered both by the slice or whole pie. The menu will include a selection of starters and signature pizzas with seasonal rotations. The dough and mozzarella will be made in-house and local vendors will be used to source additional ingredients.
Cunningham Architects designed King Coil’s space. The space will have an industrial feel with concrete floors, brick walls, and exposed ceilings. With 140 seats, there will be a central cocktail room and a number of nooks and crannies for a more intimate feel.
Additionally, there will be two private event spaces, a rollup garage door that opens to a 60-seat patio, and a large parking lot.
Vandalia Tower is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and Cunningham Architects has worked closely with the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office on its renovations for this project. The distillery has been named for its location, which was once known as the King Koil mattress factory. An anchor in the city’s Creative Enterprise Zone, King Coil Spirits hopes to further revitalize the Midway neighborhood.
