WSIU films travel show pilot at Du Quoin pub and brewery

DU QUOIN - Walk into St. Nicholas Brewing Co. in Du Quoin on any given afternoon and you can feel the buzz, a kind of electric charge generated by a lot of happy customers and a busy, friendly staff.

It was much the same on Friday when the PBS production crew arrived, and that's just what producer Mark St. George wanted.

He's the host of the pilot that was being filmed at St. Nicholas Brewing. The show is "Heartland Road Trek," and St. George is planning for a fall premiere on WSIU-TV.

"It's my brainchild; I'm the host of the show," he said. "It's not the standard travel show; it's more interactive with multiple interviews, table-to-table interviews here."

St. George has been directing, producing, editing and writing for television for more than a decade. He's a TV production specialist at WSIU Public Broadcasting. His crew on Friday were SIUC students, enrolled in the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts, helping him film the final segment of three that will make up the first episode of "Heartland Road Trek."

"Carbondale Tourism is the official sponsor of the show, but we didn't want it to be just about places in Carbondale," he said. "The pilot has three segments: one on The Science Center in Carbondale, one on The Panic Room in Carbondale - the game room business where you have to figure out a puzzle or mystery in order to escape - and then north to St. Nicholas Brewing Co. here in Du Quoin."

The owners - a group of seven family and friends - had invited a number of their "regulars" along with Du Quoin Chamber of Commerce members to play a part in the pilot. Robyn Russell, director of business development at the SIU Research Park, was invited as a member of the Du Quoin chamber.

"I wouldn't have missed it," she said. "I love the fact that this family had the vision to come into this dilapidated building and see that it could be all of this," she said, waving her arm to encompass the high ceilings where a number of bicycles are suspended. "I live in Du Quoin and I love to come to St. Nicholas."

The St. Nicholas Brewing Co. is located in the building that housed the historic St. Nicholas Hotel, a landmark in Du Quoin since the 1800s. But by 2005, the hotel had been abandoned and was at risk of being demolished. In 2009, renovations began. The facade was restored and the building structurally reinforced. St. Nicholas Brewing Co. opened in August 2014 as a microbrewery and restaurant.

Abby Ancell is one of the owners and the general manager.

"Making people happy: that's what we want to do," she said. "That's why we invited all of our regulars here today. It's a way to show our appreciation. It's about supporting our local community and bringing people together."

Billy Rogers held court at a large table filled with Du Quoin Chamber of Commerce members. Rogers is a realtor in town with Gold Team Inc., but also takes his chamber duties very seriously.

"I'm passionate about locally sourced restaurants and the owners here are committed to using locally sourced food," he said.

"All our beer is brewed in-house and paired with some great food," said Abby Ancell.

"All the more reason to live, work and play in Du Quoin," Rogers said.

For updates on "Heartland Road Trek" and its premiere date, visit wsiu.org.