The Grand Strand’s first self-pour beer tap house will soon open in Pawleys Island
Guy Guglielmi operates liquor stores on the south end of the Grand Strand, and his wife, Debra, operates Debra G’s Catering.
They have wanted to expand their areas of expertise, and their new concept on the Grand Strand will allow them to do it together.
They are opening Pawleys Tap and Pour, the first self-pour tap room in the area, at 2 p.m. on March 14 in Pawleys Island.
It will offer more than 40 self-pour draft beer options, from local brews to beers from around the world, and will also be a full-service restaurant with an event space for on-site catering that will seat up to 80 people.
“My wife has always wanted to expand upon her catering business with a restaurant as well, so it was something we both wanted to do, so that’s why we chose that concept,” Guy Guglielmi said.
At Pawleys Tap and Pour, patrons will provide an ID and credit card and receive a bracelet that will open a tap via a corresponding tablet. Customers can pour just a taste or a full pint.
“It’s a good idea because you can try a variety of beers,” Guy Guglielmi said. “I’ve always liked the idea, because I always like to try beer that maybe I haven’t had before. And when you go to a restaurant, you spend $7, $8 or maybe even $10 for a beer and you get it and you find you don’t like it and you’re kind of stuck with it.”
Each tablet describes the beer’s origin, alcohol content, taste, bitterness units and other information.
The business is at 13089 Ocean Highway (U.S. 17) and is adjacent to the Bourbon & Burnz bar and cigar lounge, which the Guglielmis have owned and operated for seven years. It features more than 275 whiskeys.
Guglielmi was intrigued by the idea of a self-pour tap house when he visited one in Durham, N.C., and believes the closest self-pour tap houses to the Strand are in Charleston and Wilmington, N.C. “It’s a phenomenal idea and I think you’re going to see it pop up in more and more places,” Guglielmi said.
Guglielmi is from Baltimore, and his wife is from Long Island, New York. They met in Pennsylvania and have lived on the Grand Strand for the past 12 years. They previously opened and operated Bagel Cafe at Litchfield before selling it a few years ago.
Pawleys Tap & Pour will be a family-friendly restaurant with menu options that include gourmet sandwiches, burgers, salads, personal pizzas and a selection of entrees. Specific offerings include Wisconsin cheddar cheese bites; a sliced bistro steak with red wine reduction and black peppercorn sauce; a pork tenderloin sandwich; and shrimp and grits. Tracy Knox is the executive chef.
The tap wall will offer a complementary beer pairing for every menu item.
The dining area seats about 85, including the bar, and there will be additional outdoor seating. In addition to on-site catering, Pawleys Tap and Pour will also offer off-site catering through Debra G’s Catering.
