Early Termination of Vittoria Old Town Hall Lease

Norfolk County Council has agreed to mutually terminate the Norfolk County/Ames Distilling Ltd. license agreement for the Vittoria Old Town Hall.

In 2019, the County requested proposals from businesses interested in joint management of Norfolk County community halls and recreation facilities. These public-private agreements represented an opportunity for the County to generate funds to maintain aging facilities requiring significant capital repairs.

Michelle Kloepfer, the owner of Ames Distilling Ltd., saw a great deal of potential in the Vittoria Old Town Hall and entered into a lease with the County. As both parties got deeper into the renovation project, it became apparent that significantly more time and resources would be required to make the hall safe, accessible, and up to code, and continuing with the renovations without the building generating any revenue was not sustainable.

“We appreciate the support of Norfolk County and the residents of Vittoria for welcoming us into this beautiful community. We are disappointed we cannot bring our vision of a vibrant and inclusive event space to the Vittoria Town Hall, but we understand the challenges the significant renovations present in accomplishing this in a viable timeframe,” said Kloepfer.

“On behalf of Council, I’d like to sincerely thank Michelle for her innovative and creative vision in helping the County find new ways to bring aging and underutilized facilities to life,” said Mayor Amy Martin. “Council will consider and explore options for Vittoria Old Town Hall in the near future.”

The termination is effective March 31, 2023.