USA, NC: Rick's Restaurant and Bar owner decides to open a brewery in Sneads Ferry

Rick's Restaurant and Bar opened almost 19 years ago by owner Rick Bumgardner, and now he and his daughter, Rebekah Pearson, have decided to open a brewery behind the restaurant in Sneads Ferry, JDNews.com reported on January 17.

Pearson has been the bar manager of Rick's for about seven years and is excited to take this next step with her dad.

"We're big beer drinkers in the family," said Pearson. "We have land back here behind Rick's, so naturally, that was the next step for us. We always knew we wanted to put something behind the restaurant, we just didn't know what it would be."

Pearson said her brother mentioned a brewery about 10 years ago, but it was just before the time. She then mentioned the idea to her dad and grandfather a couple of years ago, and they decided to take the plunge.

Topsail Brewing Company will be Onslow's first, with the closest being Salty Turtle in Surf City.

Pearson said the brewery is also going to have a tap room, in which there will be a bar with about 15 seats, and a big window where people can look into the brewery and see the beer being made.

"Something my dad and my grandfather and I have been really into," said Pearson, "when we got to a brewery, it's really cool to be there and know the beer is being made there, but to see it, and to see the guys back there working, and to see the big equipment, it's really cool. So, we wanted that aspect there. It almost involves our customers with it."

Other features the brewery will have, according to Pearson, will be a pay it forward wall for the military, as Pearson's husband is military. It will also have garage doors that will open with a wraparound porch that leads to a fenced-in beer yard, a movie screen, adult swings, and gas fires. There will also be a brewery-only menu that Rick's makes, and a path that connects the two businesses. She said dogs, kids, everyone is welcome.

Pearson said they chose the location to be behind the building rather than right on the road, because they want moms and dads to feel comfortable bringing their kids there, without the danger of the highway.

There will also be a VIP membership called the "Brew Crew," a yearly fee that will allow customers to get their own mug, be part of experiences like new releases, a private Facebook group, first access to events, and other things.

"That's something else that's going to set us a little bit apart," Pearson said.

The brewery is expected to open this summer.

Pearson said they originally were supposed to open in the spring, but with COVID, and getting permits, it's been taking a little bit longer. She said ideally they'd open by June, but it will probably be July, mAugust at the latest.

"We're really excited to give the community something to do," said Pearson. "That the kids can come in, and dad's still going to have fun, and mom's going to be comfortable, and Rick's has always been very community based.

"We help out with like, kids going back to school, and for Christmas, the kids that need help, we do a lot of stuff like that there, so we're just trying to continue that on, really give back to the community, give back to the military, just create a really fun space and support other businesses."

18 January, 2022