Page 7 - BusinessWest November 23, 2020

The Iron Duke name will have to change soon in an effort to avoid another legal battle — this one with Duke University — but the
bootprint, and the mailing
address, won’t.
allow them to write what two years ago would have seemed like a very unlikely story.
Long story shorter, the two sides came to an agreement whereby Iron Duke would not only stay, but be a vital cog in the ongoing efforts by those at Westmass to make the mills not simply a home for small businesses — and residents as
well — but a destination of sorts.
How did this stunning turnaround happen?
Morin sums it up this way.
“We found that, although the lawyers served
their purpose, just having a person-to-person conversation and understanding where each party was coming from was huge; we found some common ground,” he explained. “It was a kind
of a Hail Mary, and it was a tough negotiation because there was a lot of bad blood between the two organizations at that point. But we actually had more in common with our visions than we thought.”
Jeff Daley, who was named executive direc- tor of Westmass roughly a year ago and picked up these negotiations from Bryan Nicholas, who served as interim director after the sudden pass- ing of Eric Nelson in the spring of 2019, agreed.
“There were some bitter feelings, but Nick and I quickly agreed to operate without rear-view mirrors,” Daley explained. “We put the seatbelts on, moved forward rapidly to get them in there long term, and have an understanding that we’re going to work together to get the best for the ten- ant and the landlord.”
As he talked with BusinessWest, Morin grabbed his laptop and clicked his way to an architect’s images of a two-story, permanent structure that will reside where a tented beer gar- den, erected last summer, now sits. He expects work to start soon and be completed by next spring or summer.
As for Duke University, Morin is in the final stages of changing the company’s name to avoid another expensive court fight, this one with a university with very deep pockets and the will- ingness to protect its brand — that word ‘Duke’
— from any and all infringement (more on that later).
About the only thing standing in the way of Iron Duke now is COVID-19. And while it poses a series of challenges and has reduced draft sales of the company’s products by roughly 70% because bars and restaurants are not open or have cut hours way back, Morin believes the company can
“
all that money we were spending on lawyers and putting it back into the business and creating an experience here that’s unlike anything else in Western Mass.”
ride out that storm as well.
For this issue, BusinessWest takes a look back
at what has been a rough ride for Iron Duke — and ahead to what promises to be, as they say in this business, a smoother pour.
Ale’s Well That’s Ends Well
As he talked with BusinessWest at the bar in Iron Duke’s taproom on a quiet Wednesday, Morin, a safe six feet away, referenced the one place at that end, officially outlined with blue tape, at which one could sit because of social- distancing measures forced by COVID-19.
We’re looking forward to taking
ES F SPORT
THE NEW IS F SPORT
Options shown. ©2020 Lexus
PER MO. FOR 36 MOS.
RX F SPORT
ENDS JANUARY 4
LEASE THE 2021 RX 350 LEASE FOR:
$419
$3,999 DUE AT SIGNING
AND COMPLIMENTARY
FIRST MONTH’S PAYMENT
Offer available on approved credit to very well qualified customers through Lexus Financial Services and Balise Lexus on a new 2021 RX 350 AWD. Not all customers will qualify. Offer based on MSRP of $48,085 including delivery, processing and handling. Offer already includes $1,500 in Lease Cash incentives applied as a capitalized cost reduction. Monthly payment may vary depending on final price of vehicle & your qualifications. You pay $0.25 per mile over 10,000 per year. See dealer for vehicle and lease program details. Must take delivery by 11/30/2020. Complimentary first month's lease payment up to $700, valid on new 2021 RX 350 AWD leases up to 48 months. Qualifying customers will receive a credit equal to the lesser of $700 or their first month's lease payment (the “Maximum Credit"). The Maximum Credit will be applied first towards the amount due at lease signing with any remainder applied towards cap cost reduction. Offer through a Balise Lexus and Lexus Financial Services. If the first Payment is more than $700, the customer is responsible for any amount over $700. See Balise Lexus for lease program details. Program not eligible with One-Pay leases. Offer ends 11/30/2020.
DECKYOUR DRIVEWAY
With exceptional values, it’s the most wonderful time of the year to skip the boughs of holly and beautify your driveway with a gift that will deliver joy all year round. But while the memories will last forever, the offers will not. Visit Balise Lexus in West Springfield before January 4 and spread some cheer this holiday season.
BALISE LEXUS
1385 Riverdale Street West Springfield, MA 01089 413-306-3051
baliselexus.com | #Lexus
BusinessWest
FEATURE
NOVEMBER 23, 2020 7
Staff Photo