What's happening to Sycamore's under-construction Cotswold taproom
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The ex-Sycamore location is off Randolph Road, connected to Thai House and Dairy Queen. Photo: Alexandria Sands/Axios
Cotswold should still get a family-friendly hangout where the troubled Sycamore Brewing was supposed to open — just not Sycamore.
Why it matters: Customers were thrilled when the brewery announced in March that it was coming to Cotswold, an area that's evolving from a primarily residential neighborhood.
Yes, but: That was before Sycamore's co-founder Justin Brigham was arrested on child sex charges Dec. 11. The lease for the under-construction taproom and beer garden in Cotswold was terminated in the following weeks.
Driving the news: Thrift Commercial Real Estate Services is now marketing the property at Cotswold Village, aiming to lock in a lease with another food-and-drink establishment.
- "Interest is extremely bullish, and the groups that we're talking to are all excited," Charles Thrift tells Axios.
- It's searching for a concept with a strong food program — not "somebody that just does beer," Thrift says.
- Construction has continued at the old VisionWorks site. It's expected to be completed in April, though the timeline for signing a new lease remains unpredictable.
Between the lines: The 7,000-square-foot space will boast a 10,000-square-foot patio. That's roughly the size of Sycamore's now-closed, first-floor beer garden in South End.
- "There's nothing really like that in core Charlotte," Thrift says of the Cotswold opportunity.
Flashback: Charlotte-based Asana Partners, which owns the Brooklyn & Church project in Uptown, bought Cotswold Village in 2023, intending to create "a superior retail experience for the community", CBJ reported.
Meanwhile, Sycamore, after temporarily closing its main South End location Jan. 5, has cleared its taproom of furniture and signs. Many customers stopped supporting the business following Brigham's arrest.
What's next: The brewery appears to be gearing up for a rebrand. It filed with the state this month to rename its LLC "Club West Brewing."
- A website — clubwestbrewing.com — hints that a new venture is coming to Charlotte in spring 2026, with a teaser: "Beer. Redefined." Sycamore has not confirmed any plans.
- Brigham faces multiple charges related to his alleged Dec. 10 rape of a 13-year-old girl.