Look for craft beer, wood-fired Southern barbecue at a new restaurant in the old Mount Holly fire station
This spring, a classic Southern barbecue and beer restaurant will open in a historic Mount Holly firehouse. Firehawk Brewpub will raise its five giant garage doors at 309 N. Main St. on May 20.
The 6,000-square-foot restaurant will combine two of owner Scott Blackwood’s favorite things — in-house brewed beer and his personal recipe for traditional North Carolina wood-fired barbecue.
“Being in the fire department, it seemed logical that we cook our food on live, wood-fired grills,” Blackwood told CharlotteFive.
There will be a variety of seating and service options for guests, including full-service tables, a walk-up counter, QR code ordering and a bar area. Firehawk Brewpub will also feature a 40+ person patio facing Dutchman’s Creek and a second patio with 60-70 seats along Main Street.
Perhaps one of Firehawk Brewing’s most unique features will be the ability for guests to buy a bundle of wood and a s’mores kit and enjoy fireside s’mores by the creek. “We want to meet everyone in their new comfort zone — wherever that may be,” Blackwood said.
The location for his new, casual restaurant is a full circle moment for Blackwood, who grew up in Mount Holly. “I have this memory that is seared in my head. I was jumping on a mattress in the living room when I was about 10 years old, and I hit my head on a coffee table. I remember my dad throwing me in the back of his Grand Marquis and bringing me to this fire station. I sat on the back of a firetruck getting stitches.”
The restaurant is a family and friends affair. “The menu is formulated from recipes from me and my wife, Erin, my parents, grandparents, family friends,” Blackwood said.
Expect to see a range of Carolina-inspired barbecue, fish camp-style dishes and grilled meat over fire.
On opening day, the brewpub will serve a Raw Irish Stout, Berliner Weisse and an IPA from brewer Matthew Young.
His best friend, Robert Childers — a local musician and artist — will be organizing art shows on the property, and his brother — DJ Justin Aswell — will be DJing there. Blackwood’s mom is the office administrator.
But it is Blackwood’s dad who is showing up in a very special way. “Our motto is ‘feed everyone,’ so if you can’t afford your meal, you can put it on Papa Ray’s tab,” Blackwood said. The idea honors his late father, who passed away in 2009.
“If someone comes in and they hit the lottery that day and wants to put an extra hundred dollars on Papa Ray’s tab, they can do that, as well. Our hope is that at the end of the year it will all balance out and any extra will be donated to charity.”
The fire station building was previously used by the Mount Holly utilities department after a new firehouse was built for the town in the early 2000s.
The restaurant will be closed on Tuesdays.
Firehawk Brewpub
Location: 309 North Main Street, Mount Holly
Cuisine: American, Southern, beer, barbecue
Instagram: @firehawkbrewpub
This story was originally published March 15, 2023 at 6:15 AM.
