Resident Culture opens second taproom in former bus maintenance facility, features DJ booth, coffee bar and other coolness

On the heels of celebrating the fourth anniversary of its original location in Plaza Midwood, Resident Culture Brewing Co. opened its second taproom in South End, N.C., last week. Dubbed Resident Culture Brewing Co. South End, the new spot is a transformed 17,000-square-foot, two-story warehouse built in the 1920s that originally served as the city’s first bus maintenance facility.

“This space, the artwork, the decor, the lighting — it’s a fully immersive experience into the world of Resident Culture’s funky, weird brand personality while also honoring the space’s history,” co-owner Amanda McLamb explains. “While the South End taproom will have a similar vibe to our flagship location, this space will take our brand to another level.”

The grand opening featured live DJs throughout the evening, Resident Culture-branded swag giveaways and $1 tacos from El Toro Bruto. And yes, most of that celebration (DJ booth and tacos) will be part of the space from here on out, plus much more:

• The impressive space will feature tacos from chef Hector Gonzalez’s El Toro Bruto (formerly the popular pop-up Chilito),
• a gourmet coffee bar serving Mostra Coffee,
• a 1,000-square-foot outdoor patio,
• a DJ booth above the full bar,
• custom-made furniture from Mooresville-based Forged Timber Company and
• unexpected art and decor from staff artist Maryssa Pickett and others.

“We’ve always had a collaborative approach to our beer program, and now with in-house partners El Toro Bruto and Mostra Coffee, we’ll definitely be experimenting with brews that pair well with their flavors and will only be available at the South End taproom,” says co-owner and head brewer Chris Tropeano.

The coffee bar, which is slated to launch this spring, will exclusively feature Mostra Coffee, named the 2020 Roaster of the Year by “Roast Magazine.” This is the San Diego-based roaster’s first foray on the East Coast. Resident Culture South End will carry popular Mostra blends from light to medium to dark roasts, like the House Blend, which melds together the flavors of dark chocolate, sweet tobacco and earthy tones.

Still undergoing final touches, the 6,800-square-foot event space on the lower level will include a 4,000-square-foot main room ideal for weddings and corporate events. The Resident Culture team also plans to use it for events like a speaker series and intimate concerts. The event space is slated to open in spring 2022.

“The possibilities for events at this location are endless,” says co-owner Phillip McLamb. “After losing our event space in Plaza Midwood to make room for more production, it’s exciting to now have even more capabilities than we could have imagined. We’re excited for the main level, but guests are going to be blown away by the event spaces when they see them.”