Charlotte's Sycamore Brewing Sold, Rebrands as Club West for March Reopening

One of Charlotte's most recognizable craft beer names is gone. The South End brewpub at 2151 Hawkins St. that opened as Sycamore Brewing in 2014 swings its doors back open today as Club West Brewing, with longtime operations director Brad Bergman taking over from owner Sarah Taylor in a full sale of the business.

The transition follows one of the uglier chapters in Charlotte's brewing scene. Former co-founder and co-owner Justin Brigham was arrested in December 2025 on child sex charges and subsequently indicted by a grand jury on March 6 on rape and eight other charges. Brigham remains in Stanly County jail on an $11.25 million bond, with an arraignment scheduled for March 30. The fallout was immediate and severe: retailers dropped Sycamore products, a second location lease was terminated, and the airport taproom closed. Taylor removed Brigham from the business, took sole ownership in December, and shuttered the South End taproom on January 5.

Taylor announced the sale Thursday in a statement: "I am proud of what this team built together, and I believe the best days for the brewery are still ahead under Brad's leadership. Selling the brewery to Brad was a decision I came to thoughtfully. He understands this business and the people behind it that make it special." She said she plans to step away to focus on family and mental health.

Bergman, described by WSOC-TV as an eight-year leader at the company and by Queen City News as Sycamore's longtime operations manager, is acquiring 100 percent of the business. The Charlotte Observer reported the transfer will be finalized following regulatory approvals. Bergman said in a Thursday statement: "We want this to be a place where people come together, have a cold beer, share a smile, and enjoy the company around them."

Club West opens at 11 a.m. today and will run 11 a.m. to midnight through March 20. Starting March 21, regular hours shift to 10 a.m. to midnight daily, Saturday brunch debuts, and the taproom introduces a bourbon and tequila bar with specialty cocktails including a Nitro Carajillo Old Fashioned, Tamarind Whiskey Sour, Kentucky Mule, and Cadillac Margarita. Draft cocktails already on the menu include a Moscow Mule with prickly pear and sage, Hibiscus Paloma, Pineapple Cucumber Ranch Water, and Club West Spritz.

On the beer side, the core lineup includes a Club West IPA, Evening Ember Amber, Cold Camp Lager, and Peach Yuzu Cider, with rotating taps beyond that. Queen City News also listed a Golden Hour Ale among the core offerings; the Charlotte Observer's reported lineup omits that name.

The rebrand goes beyond the name. The Club West identity draws inspiration from the American West, per the company. WBTV noted the Airstream on the building's second floor has already been repainted with Club West branding, though it was still under a tarp ahead of today's opening. Earlier this week, a crew of four was spotted moving tables onto a freshly repainted patio with the lights and TVs already running inside.

Sycamore had grown into one of North Carolina's highest-producing breweries since opening on Hawkins Street in 2014, moving into its current high-rise location next door in 2023. Bergman, who has spent eight years inside those operations, is betting the infrastructure is still sound. His stated focus now is rebuilding goodwill, supporting employees, and returning the business to profitability.