Four Saints announces expansion plans

ASHEBORO — Four Saints Brewing Co. is expanding into the old F-R Drug Co. building with plans to begin a distillery.

It’s part of a three-part operation in the space at 212 S. Fayetteville St. that was for many years Family Circle Consignments. The old floor near the front door still features the F-R Drugco name. For that reason, the cocktail bar will be called The Pharmacy, according to Joel McClosky, Four Saints CEO.

“When Family Circle left, we rented the building with plans for expanding the brewery,” he said. “Then 2020 (and the COVID-19 pandemic) changed that. It’s been used for storage the last couple of years.”

McClosky said the building, which is next door to Four Saints Brewing Co., is a bit smaller but adds much space to their operations. He said the rear portion will be used for canning beers, providing more flexibility as to what they can put out, giving them the chance to prepare four or five months in advance, according to what’s selling and changes in the market.

The middle portion, McClosky said, will allow the business more room for storage. “We’ll have walk-in space, something we haven’t had. It should alleviate stress.”

Up front will be The Pharmacy, a cocktail bar limited to those 21 years of age and older — no children and no dogs, McClosky said., “It will be a more relaxed, cozy space where people can sit down for conversation, an old-world pub kind of feel. Booths will be enclosed and there will be bar seating.

“Cody Weiss will be the manager and will develop the menu,” McClosky said. “We’ll have cocktails you don’t see around here much, traditional styles and new ideas, good quality.”

Four Saints will distil spirits from the brewing wort, or sugar water, from making beer. It will go into the still to develop rum or vodka.

“We’re looking at what we can distill,” McClosky said. “We’ll start with vodka and rum, then more to whiskey. 

“This will be the only place to get Four Saints distilled products,” he said. “We’ll be able to give a different offering, add in the old moonshine aspect.” 

McClosky said he didn’t see The Pharmacy opening before sometime in 2023.