Distillery district mural covered

A mural popular with patrons at the Pepper Distillery campus is disappearing. The mural, commissioned by the street art group PRHBTN from the artist Phlegm, has been on the side of the former distillery since 2013, tucked away on the Town Branch side.

Building owner Tony Higdon said Monday that the space has been leased to a new tenant who will use that area as the main entrance and face of the business. A press conference is planned for May 4 to unveil the tenant.

When the mural was painted, “we never anticipated” that the building would become such a hub of entertainment and dining for Lexington. The Pepper Distillery campus is home already to Ethereal Brewing, Middle Fork Kitchen Bar, Crank & Boom Ice Cream, Barrel House Distilling, and The Break Room bar, with a coffee bar and another brewery and restaurant coming soon.

Higdon said that he, his partners and the new tenant anticipate making a financial contribution to PRHBTN and trying to get the artist to return and paint another mural somewhere on the campus.

Higdon said they tried to convince the new tenant to leave the mural, which they support, but it just didn’t work out.

“They want to do their own … have their own statement,” Higdon said.

This story was originally published April 25, 2016 at 6:10 PM with the headline "Distillery district mural covered."