Community News

THE GENERAL WINE & BREW OPENS IN SEAGROVE!

David Fernandez has been making pottery for more than 45 years. He has exhibited in the most prestigious juried art shows throughout the country and continues to maintain his market outside of the area by attending 30 to 35 shows a year around the country, as well as selling his work at Seagrove Stoneware along with Alexa Modderno. When the pandemic hit in March, and shut everything down, it canceled all of the shows and festivals that he had planned to attend this year. So he and Alexa started looking around for other ideas to occupy them and in April, the concept of The General Wine & Brew was born.

They relocated Seagrove Stoneware to the vacant bank building nearby and began to remodel their previous location, the old General Store, over the summer. Darian Walker of Bodhi Land and Design in Raleigh was hired as the architect. He is the son-inlaw of Mike Walker, a former Mayor of Seagrove, and also worked on the Luck’s Cannery project. They hired Richard Schoenberger of Manor House Graphics to create the logo.

The building itself is over 100 years old, and they wanted to keep the character of the old general store, while offering a space that is wonderfully comfortable and fun. They built a beautiful bar, with lots of seating, as well as whiskey barrels as tables around the floor. The whiskey barrels are on wheels, so the space can be configured a number of ways, or they can be moved completely out of the way for yoga classes on Sundays when they are closed (followed by mimosas, of course!)

David’s pool table is being utilized as a large gathering table with a custom-made cover, which can be quickly converted back to a pool table or evenused for ping pong. The space is very versatile and will offer visitors and groups many hours of entertainment. In the corner under the large screen tv, there is even an acoustic guitar hanging that they are hoping will attract local artists to “drop in” and play a few sets in the evenings.

With a large outdoor deck for additional seating and plans to expand into the woods along the driveway with tables and firepits in the Spring, The General Wine & Brew will be sure to attract a great following. Local

restaurants have already agreed to deliver food to the location, so you can grab a glass of wine or beer and have the food delivered right to you. They kept the décor minimal intentionally, to enhance the beauty of the old building. A glass artist that David met and became friends with over the years, Sabra Richards, is the only artist displayed at this time with three beautiful pieces hanging on the wall next to the bar offering a vibrant pop of color.

The bar is made up of 100s of buttons embedded in it for hours of entertainment. Each time you sit at the bar, you find new and funny things to read – and they made all of them themselves, except the smallest ones. There are celebrities, witty and sarcastic sayings, political slogans, local potters, family, and friends from the area. Every seat at the bar gives you a new perspective of delight and discovery.

With four taps running local favorites, and a cooler stocked full of great beers, the beer lover is sure to find something pleasing to their palette and as Alexa and David are both wine connoisseurs, they offer a great selection by the glass or you can buy the bottle to take with you.

David is very active in the Seagrove community. He is currently on the Advisory Board for Luck’s Cannery and has served on the boards of the Seagrove Area Potters Association and the NC Pottery Center. He was a Town Commissioner and is the current Mayor of Seagrove.

Alexa and David are splitting their time between the two shops, but as they get busier and the business grows, they will be looking to add more staff. Through the winter, their hours will be Tuesday through Thursday 4 to 8 pm, Friday 4 to 9 pm, and Saturday 12 to 9 pm and they are currently closed Sunday and Monday. It is worth the drive through the beautiful Randolph County countryside to check out this new spot in downtown Seagrove. Located at 124 W Main Street, right before the light coming from the highway, it is easy to find. Like them on Facebook to keep up with events at www. facebook.com/TheGeneralWineandBrew. Slainté! (pronounced [SLAHN-che] where the t is silent.)