Barley's Taproom and Pizzeria - Spindale, NC

123 W. Main Street, Spindale, NC 28160

www.barleystaproomspindale.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barleysinspindale

Spindale, North Carolina has been described as “an hour away from everywhere.” Thus, this taproom and pizzeria located on Main Street is a pretty popular place for those in the area.

Located in the Southeastern section of the state, the town sits in Rutherford County, a county that was “dry” until the early 2000s.  Tim Smith – who shares ownership with Rodney Butler and Linette and Mark Gosnell – opened a pawnshop in this space, but then began the restaurant when liquor could be sold.

Today, they have 20 beers on tap that rotate every week. Customers will find a variety of local microbrews. There’s no other domestic beer on tap; you can still get it in bottles.

While very family-friendly and, as they describe, “where suit and tie meet tie dye,” one might be surprised by the decor when first entering. “At the doorway,” owner Linette Gosnell states, “is a big arrow that says ‘drugs’ and points in.” That antique tile work is left over from the 1920’s when the building housed Sloan’s Drug Store in the heart of downtown Spindale.

Barley’s continues the antique look inside. The 3500 square foot space, remodeled by the owners before opening in 2006, has the original tin ceilings, a bar top made from the floor of the old local school and hallway lights obtained before the demolition of a residence hall at Appalachian State University.

The many photographs that line the walls were donated by the families of the Stonecutter Foundation from days when Spindale was a mining town. “There’s a photo of the time all the employees got paid in coins and some guy is there with his wheelbarrel [full of his weekly pay],” says Gosnell.

The restaurant was recognized as “Best Taproom in the South” in Southern Draught Beer News and picked as “Top Tap in the South” by Celebrator Beer Magazine, but the hand-tossed sourdough pizza and live music (bluegrass, country and jazz performed local artists) also bring in the crowds.

Interestingly, their address wasn’t always 123 West Main Street. “We originally started out as 115 West Main Street, but GPS was having a hard time finding us and sending people to the next county,” noted Gosnell. Approximately five years ago, in 2010, the town renumbered the businesses on Main Street. “We ended up with 123.”

There are four other Barley’s locations in the area – Ashville, NC; Greenville, SC and Knoxville, TN. All are independently owned and operated.