Tanniger, Fischers plan to renovate Fifth Infantry Armory

QUINCY — Jay Krottinger and Ryan Jude Tanner were so pleased with the work done last year by Fischer Builders during the remodeling of the Patio Restaurant and Lounge that they’ve teamed up to create a new company.

Krottinger and Tanner, partners in Tanninger Companies, have formed Fischer & Tanniger with Meegan Fischer and Ryan Fischer. The company, which describes itself as a “boutique design firm,” will focus on historical renovations by repurposing properties around Quincy. 

The company announced its first venture earlier this week with the acquisition of the Fifth Infantry Armory, 416 Jersey, which was built in 1915. It is on the south side of Jersey Street across from the Patio.

“Ryan and Fischer Builders took on the (Patio) project and kind of led (Tanner and Krottinger),” Meegan said. “They had lots and lots of ideas, but some of it just wasn’t coming together. They got a designer, and they worked with Fischer Builders and it turned out amazing. Everybody worked really well together.

“(Tanninger) heard the possibility the armory was going to be put on the market for purchase. They saw potential to put their apartment and maybe their offices on the second floor. They thought of Ryan and I. It’s kind of a no-brainer partnership. They have the vision and the ideas, and Ryan can do the construction work. And I love Quincy history.”

‘We have a lot of ideas’

The Armory has approximately 22,000 square feet, with 10,000 square feet in the drill hall atrium and 12,000 square feet in the main entrance, split between two floors. The basement has a wartime firing range, ammunition and artillery safes, a mess hall, a kitchen and showers.

Plans call for the drill hall to be available as an exhibit space for trade shows, as well as live music and private entertainment events. The north, two-story structure along Jersey will become professional offices, including a 3,500 square foot upstairs apartment that originally was the lieutenant’s quarters. The basement could become a theater space. 

“We have a lot of ideas,” Meegan said. “What we’re hoping is for two to three business spaces. Right now we have two tenants, hopefully, in the works.

“It’s a beautiful, beautiful space. When you walk in the main entrance, the north side has two grand staircases going up to the second floor. It’s just a beautiful piece of old architectural history. We want to get the front part up to date and make it beautiful like it once was. The drill hall is probably a little more of a long-term goal for us.”

Construction of building started in September 1914

Research by Lynn Snyder of the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County revealed construction of the Armory did not begin until September 1914. The location of the Illinois Armory was heavily debated. Discussions began before the turn of the century and lasted more than 18 years. 

The Fifth Infantry Armory is of the World War I era. It was built to house weapons and supplies for the division. Local newspaper archives suggest Company F with the Fifth Infantry trained in the Armory, along with a machine gun company from the Illinois National Guard. Between the World Wars, several companies were stationed in the Armory and subsequently deployed during the 1920s to deter riots and strikes. 

The Armory now serves as the office of Royalty Electric, which will relocate at the end of August. Owner Larry Royalty has owned the building since 2012.

This won’t be the last project for Fischer & Tanninger.

“We’ve talked about other buildings downtown that maybe could be our next project,” Meegan said. “We see the future for some spots downtown, and we really think everything going on downtown is amazing. Hopefully it becomes what it used to be. But we definitely want to tackle this one and make it a success before we jump into something else.”

Tanninger Companies recently closed on the purchase of the Illinois State Bank building at 529 Hampshire. Plans for the seven-story building include a restaurant, a 25-room boutique hotel and a rooftop bar.