Opening soon: Craft Tasting Room & Growler Shop preps South End location (PHOTOS)

Dan Davis moved to Charlotte two years ago with plans of opening a growler shop.

Only problem? It wasn't legal to do so yet.

On Thursday, he and wife Alyson will make that dream a reality when they open Craft Tasting Room & Growler Shop in Charlotte's South End.

"I just knew that it was a matter of time," Dan Davis says.

Davis is a craft-beer lover and chef-by-trade.

He has spent the last week putting the finishing touched on that specialty-food grocery and beer garden at 1320 S. Church St.

"You can't beat South End as far as the energy and the vibe that comes from here," he says.

The 3,000-square-foot shop has been transformed from an industrial space. It boasts a open ceiling with dormer windows that bring in natural light. The shop also features custom-made tables and a bar made from maple.

"We really opened it up," Davis says of the building's renovations.

Craft will have 36 beers on tap, half of which will be dedicated to local breweries. The rest will be a mix of regional and special-edition beers.

That will provide customers with a selection of craft beers that can be enjoyed at the shop or taken home in growlers in two sizes: 64 oz. and 32 oz. Patrons may buy a growler and refill it as many times as they want, as well as exchange empties.

There will be some food available for order, such as piadina, an Italian flatbread sandwich made with just three ingredients.

Davis also plans to serve light bar snacks, sandwiches, cheese and charcuterie boards.

The location will have a grocery area that will offer specialty cheeses and other regional provisions.

It also has a 1,000-square-foot beer garden.

Jennifer Thomas covers retail, health care and education for the Charlotte Business Journal.