After opening its flagship location in NoDa, Great Wagon Road Distilling is getting ready to open a second site, called GWR WXW, in Waxhaw at 122 W North Main St.
The new 3,000-square-foot distillery will move into the former home of Waxhaw Bike Depot in Downtown Waxhaw in the second week of September, according to Charlotte Observer. The space is currently under construction and will feature chandeliers made out of whiskey barrels, a 60-foot-long bar, a dropped tin ceiling, and extensive soundproofing to create a relaxed ambiance. Customers will still be able to order whiskey pulled straight from the barrel.
“We’re excited to be part of the Waxhaw community,” owner Ollie Mulligan told CharlotteFive. “We’ve created an industrial yet cozy feel — it’s going to be a great cocktail experience.”
There will be a few changes at GWR WXW compared to the original site at 610 Anderson St. The most noticeable will be no kitchen for food. Instead, a heavy-duty electric hookup will be available outside so food trucks can plug in without causing any disturbances. The distillery also plans to sell bottles to go but will heavily rely on its one-of-a-kind bar experience to win over customers. One such feature to help do so will be a private room in GWR WXW, known as an Irish snug.
“The snug is a nice intimate addition to the space,” Mulligan said. “In Ireland, a snug is where marriages are arranged, cattle are sold, and quiet deals are done.”
