Hatchet Taps Selma for Second Location
After four years on Broad Street, Hatchet Brewing Co. is expanding its production and distribution and opening a new taproom 87ish miles north. Owner Greg Walker is converting a former bank and town hall in downtown Selma into The Vault: a taproom, arcade and community space.
Wait. Why Selma? They weren’t exactly looking there, says taproom manager Whitney Varner, but jumped at the opportunity to invest in a “really cool old building.” Then they fell in love with the community — and learned Johnston County is growing even faster than Moore County.
“We see it as an excellent opportunity to come in and support that growth,” says Greg, adding that Hatchet will be among the first businesses to re-invest in Selma’s downtown. “It comes with its own risks and concerns, but it’s a healthy time for the business. I feel like the more we do, the more we benefit.”
Hatchet recently took over 1,500 square feet of space adjacent to their downtown SP spot to grow the distribution of their packaged beer, which is produced with the help of a mobile canning business. Beer sold in Selma will be brewed in, and transported from, Southern Pines.
“Expansion has always been the goal, and it’s been a long time coming,” Greg says. “It’s hard to measure, but feeling like we have a positive impact on a community is really important to us.”
Whitney is heading up the design for the Selma location, which will feature a large center bar and arcade games you’ll access through the old bank vault door. She’s going for a classy, modern feel, with lots of dark wood and marble: “how you’d imagine an old bank to look.” The team is currently shooting for an opening in Spring 2024.
