Sumter Original Brewery

McMillan Pazdan Smith was asked to provide design services for a new brewery in Sumter, SC. The client, Greg Thompson of Thompson Turner Construction, is a native and current resident of Sumter. In hopes of improving downtown, he is personally invested in the brewery — not only to increase foot traffic and night life in downtown Sumter, but to revitalize an already historic area.

The brewery involved demolition of an existing building and new construction of approximately 30,000 SF across three stories. The first story includes a tasting room with communal dining and a centrally-located bar. The brewing equipment is located behind the bar with a glass display for visitors to view the process. The second floor features another bar and open space for games (corn hole, skee-ball, pool tables, simulation golf, etc.). The brewing area extends through the floor of the second story so viewers can look down at the process from a different angle. The third floor provides outdoor space as a rooftop terrace, and features a canopy, small warming kitchen, bathrooms, and an elevator. This area is open to the public during business hours with hopes of providing event space during non-business hours.