The Kirkwood Candle Bar will soon take over the former Irish Lion building, with plans to open sometime next year.
Kirkwood Candle Bar teaches candle-making classes and currently runs out of EllieMae's Boutique in the Fountain Square building downtown.
Kirkwood Candle Bar has been open for two years.
The Irish Lion closed in May after the owner’s retirement. The pub operated in Bloomington for 42 years.
Read more: Irish Lion’s owner retires, closing indoor dining
Bloomington business Hoosier Alley Entertainment, Inc., bought the Kirkwood Avenue building for $1,325,000 on Sept. 27. The owner, William McCrary, bought the property to get a liquor license for future ventures.
Manager Kourtney O'Rourke said the building will give Candle Bar more space to accommodate larger groups wanting to book classes. The business plans to incorporate some of the historic parts of the building, such as the bar counter.
“We'll be able to keep that and utilize that as part of the candle bar without having to remove it,” O’Rourke said. “Whereas, you know, if somebody else were to come in, they could totally gut the entire thing and not have any of that left.”
Some of the renovations include adding an elevator, handicap-accessible bathrooms and redoing the upstairs to hold large-party events.
The store will share space with Weirdough Cookie Co., which plans to hold cookie baking and decorating classes. O’Rourke said she’s also looking to partner with a local winery to pair the classes with wine and charcuterie.
