SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — It’s the time of year when Port City Daily counts down its most read pieces throughout 2023.
CATCH UP: No. 6 Most Read Story of 2023: nCino lays off 7% of workforce
Locals were excited for the expansion announcement from one of the area’s most popular breweries. Wilmington Brewing Company told Port City Daily in November it would be opening a downtown location in a popular historic building on Front Street likely by 2025.
WBC owners John and Michelle Savard will begin construction on the W.H. MacEachern’s Sons building in January 2024.
“The building is full of history,” Michelle said. “There are skylights and it has greenery, and it’s historic — we fell in love with the space a long time ago.”
Constructed in the mid-20th century, it operated as a Merita bread bakery until McEachern purchased it in the early 1960s. Lore has it that McEachern kept monkeys that had traveled over on banana boats in the basement.
“We’re learning something new about the space every day,” Michelle said.
It’s roughly 9,000 square feet of exposed brick and concrete floors, and provides a blank slate for the Savards to bring to life an entirely new brand — and it won’t just be beer-centered. On Friday, the buzzing sounds of rail runners and sanders permeated the building.
The goal is for the space to be dually used: as a small craft brewery and a surfboard-shaping business.
The entrepreneurs have an open-air concept for 121 S. Front St., with garage doors lifting to see passersby on Front Street. Natural light illuminates the industrial space; Michelle says they’re going for a “beer hall vibe.” Customers will be able to see brews being made in one area and a surfboard created behind a glass bay in another.
Read all the details and more from the Savards in the original piece, published below:
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