Despite controversy and boycott, Wilmington's Edward Teach Brewing still has supporters

When Stephanie Mack moved to Wilmington about a year and half ago, she didn't really know anybody in town.

One of the first places she found a home, Mack said, was at Edward Teach Brewing on North Fourth Street, whose patrons and employees became "like a second family for me."

Then, late last year, things at Edward Teach were turned upside down after an incident there spawned a viral Facebook post that accused brewery owner Gary Sholar, who Mack said she doesn't know, of misconduct.

"I wasn't there, but it just seems like the whole situation was misportrayed," Mack said. "The circumstances were just weird. Nothing bad has ever happened to me there."

By all accounts, business at Edward Teach Brewing is way down since the start of the year, with many former patrons boycotting the brewery and a significant number of bars, restaurants and retail outlets no longer stocking Edward Teach products.

In March, Sholar pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges stemming from the November incident, including failing to superintend a business for which an Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission permit has been issued and allowing disorderly conduct on the brewery's premises. Two counts each of assault on a female and communicating threats were dismissed.

Throughout the case's many twists and turns — Sholar and Edward Teach have filed as-yet unresolved civil lawsuits against two people in the wake of the incident — a hardcore base of patrons and businesses have continued to support the brewery through the controversy and boycott.

"We're grateful to our customers and other supporters," said Edward Teach taproom manager Amy Cavasos. "It's deeply gratifying to know that they're here for us."

One of the businesses that has stood by Edward Teach is Wilmington restaurant The Bento Box. Co-owner Lourdes Grossman said The Bento Box has been stocking Edward Teach beer since not long after the brewery opened more than six years ago.

"Like everybody else, I read the stories. It sounded incredible," Grossman said. "There's three sides to every story: my side, your side and the truth."

When she saw so many people and businesses publicly disavowing Edward Teach online, Grossman said, she had the thought, "Sometimes people get on this bandwagon to garner attention for themselves."

Even so, she and her husband, Lee, had their business to consider.

"We thought about that," Grossman said. "'Oh, will people not come to Bento Box if we stock their beer?' But you know what? It didn't happen. People are still ordering Teach's Peaches and Devil's Sun," two of Edward Teach's most popular brews.

Teach's Peaches in particular was near-ubiquitous in area establishments, though its visibility has fallen off in recent weeks. The Lowe's Foods grocery chain stopped carrying Edward Teach products in the wake of the controversy, but stores including Food Lion and Harris Teeter still stock it.

Aaron Martin of Wilmington said he's been going to Edward Teach regularly for the past six years.

"I love their beer. It's consistent," Martin said. "When they come up with something new or something special, I always try it."

Martin, who wasn't there when the incident occurred, said he took the charges against Sholar seriously. The viral Facebook post by Brunswick County musician Madonna Nash accused Sholar of assaulting her daughter, the singer Asia Daye, who was performing at Edward Teach when the incident occurred, and of throwing chairs inside his establishment.

Daye's friend, Paige Grant, confronted Sholar after he attempted to sing with Daye while she was performing. The situation devolved into a heated argument in which Sholar and Grant exchanged profanities and Sholar kicked Grant out of the brewery. Nash and Daye have repeatedly declined to speak on the record with the StarNews.

"When I read the accusations, the part of him singing, yeah, that's Gary," Martin said. "The other stuff, I didn't really believe it. I wanted to wait it out and see. If he did it, they should've gone directly after him, not after the brewery. The way it was done, it really hurt the employees."

Business dropped off at Edward Teach in the days and weeks after the incident became public. Even now, Edward Teach is essentially dead to many former patrons. After being one of more than a half-dozen Northside venues to host bands for the Alt-zalea music festival over Azalea Festival weekend in 2023, Edward Teach was pointedly excluded from this month's Alt-zalea Fest.

Lately, however, business has bounced back somewhat and "the seats are filling up," Martin said. "I'm glad people are starting to come back and support the staff."

Edward Teach patron Mack, who still proudly sports her Edward Teach-branded gear and clothing, said she agrees the brewery has been busier recently, "But not back to what it was."

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Some Edward Teach supporters stick with brewery despite controversy