Three Food and Drink Businesses Opened in Ontario
Empire State Distillers, Sunny's Country Kitchen, and Café Cortile have launched on Knickerbocker Road.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Three new food and beverage establishments have opened in Ontario at the site of a former antique center. The businesses, which share a common group of owners, occupy space on Knickerbocker Road.
Why it matters
The owners aim to provide a comprehensive local entertainment destination by integrating a distillery, restaurant, and coffee shop. This multi-concept approach allows patrons to transition between distinct dining and tasting experiences in one location.
Empire State Distillers is required to source 75 percent of its raw materials from New York State to maintain its farm distillery and winery license. The project represents the establishment of 3 distinct business entities on the shared property.
The players
Empire State Distillers
This distillery produces a variety of spirits including bourbon, whiskey, vodka, gin, rum, brandy, and agave spirit.
Sunny's Country Kitchen
This restaurant is a second location of an establishment originally based in Dayton, Nevada.
Café Cortile
This coffee shop occupies the former space of a previous cafe on the Knickerbocker Road property.
The details
The developers converted the site of a former antique center and a previous coffee shop into a cohesive hospitality complex. The expansion includes a tasting room for spirits such as bourbon, gin, and agave, paired with a satellite location for a Nevada-based restaurant.
Timeline
The three businesses opened in Ontario over the past several months.
Market Landscape
The cluster of businesses follows the operational standards set by the New York State farm distillery licensing statute, which mandates that a significant majority of production ingredients be locally sourced. This model reflects a broader trend of agricultural tourism and localized production in the regional hospitality industry.
Residents gain a new local venue that combines dining, coffee service, and spirit tastings in a single destination. Customers can expect a rotating product line as the owners move to introduce new offerings like canned cocktails and coffee cream spirits.
The takeaway
The transformation of the former antique center serves as a blueprint for business owners looking to maximize property utility through shared capital and diversified concepts. Visitors should monitor the facility for future outdoor events as the owners continue to develop the patio space.
Further reading
For more information on the regional business climate, visit the Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Democrat and Chronicle.
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