PHOTO FROM MEETING PACKET
Burley Oak Brewing Company owner Bryan Brushmiller previewed his new downtown Berlin business, Viking Tree Trading Company, during a Historic District Commission meeting last Wednesday.

By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(Sept. 13, 2018) Burley Oak Brewing Company owner Bryan Brushmiller briefly previewed his new downtown shop, Viking Tree Trading Company, for the Berlin Historic District Commission last Wednesday.

The commission was quick to approve new signs for the shop, which is coming soon to 114 North Main Street. Brushmiller said David Lane would produce the wooden, hand-painted hanging sign, which would be similar to others on the street.

“We saw there was a need for a different type of store downtown … it’s more of a variety, retail store,” Brushmiller, who also operates the brewery on Old Ocean City Boulevard and the Burley Café restaurant on Jefferson Street, said.

“We tend to travel a lot for business, so whenever we go somewhere, we always find neat stuff. So that’s the idea, of bringing it back to Berlin and sharing it [with] all of our friends,” he added.

Brushmiller hopes to open by Oct. 1.

Also during the meeting, the commission approved replacement shingles for a home on 410 South Main Street, as well as demolition of a lean-to and installation of a new, prefabricated shed on 414 South Main Street.

The latter was for the home of Hank and Julie Koenig, which was seriously damaged during a fire last December. During the meeting, Hank Koenig said there was a small bump in the road in restoring the home, but the hurdle had since been overcome and “I think we’re going to see a lot of movement here soon.”

Koenig added he recently purchased a set of period doors, circa 1900 to 1915, to replace the front doors burned during the fire. Commission Chairwoman Carol Rose asked to set up a separate case to approve the doors next month.

A GoFundMe campaign to help the family rebuild their historic home remains active. To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/helping-the-koenings-rebuild.

The next Historic District Commission meeting is scheduled Oct. 3 at 5:30 p.m. in Town Hall.