small business spotlight EDITED BY AMBER KEISTER | PHOTOGRAPHED BY JONATHAN FREDIN
Craft Beer Cellar Cary A
ndrea Cross-Dial has been a fan of craft beer since the 1980s, long before small-batch brewing exploded in the U.S. Starting in college, she would spend her free time visiting breweries and tasting European beers. With that expertise as a foundation, she opened the Cary Craft Beer Cellar in fall of 2018. The business was the Triangle’s first location of the national franchise, and it was one of the first tenants in the Shops at Town Station. Besides the wide selection of beer, the shop also stocks ciders, wine and spiked seltzer. Cross-Dial also makes sure there is plenty to do while you are enjoying a beverage.
“We host weekly trivia, occasional food trucks, brewery tastings and other special events. We have seating indoors and a spacious patio out back, and are dog-friendly inside and out,” she said. “So in addition to being a beer and wine shop, we are a community gathering spot.” We asked CrossDial about her long-time hobby and how it became a business. Why did you want to work for yourself?
After working as a nuclear engineer for large companies (and getting laid off), I realized I wanted something to call my own, to learn new things and challenge myself. continued on page 81
The Craft Beer Cellar in Cary usually has a dozen or so beers on tap, most from North Carolina.
CARY MAGAZINE 79
