Ever since holding the largest ribbon-cutting ceremony in town history on November 21, 2023 – followed by a grand opening event with a roaring ’20s theme in mid-January – business has been booming at Broadsides & Brews on White Street in Downtown Wake Forest.
“We became empty-nesters and this is our new baby,” said Joni Falvey, general manager and co-owner with her husband, Bryan. “It’s been incredibly well-received.”
The happy couple and parents of three grown children – all of whom work in the arts – met while working at an Italian restaurant. They “escaped” from Monroe, New York and relocated to Wake Forest in 2014. Joni has a background in theater and event production and Bryan worked for S&P Global before signing on with MetLife. But since that restaurant experience years before, they both dreamed of one day creating their own ideal social space.
Soon after their arrival, it was love at first sight of the Downtown District, and the couple started planning for what would become B&B. It took a long time to find the right space – with their current location once under contract with another potential buyer – but the sale fell through. The couple quickly made an offer to former owner Christian Pool and closed on January 27, 2023.
“We wanted a place where the arts could flourish and people could come together,” Joni said.
Ten months later – a little longer than first planned but perfectly acceptable under the circumstances – after first publicly announcing their plans at last year’s Property Owner’s Lunch at the Renaissance Centre – they opened the doors to a cool and quaint, warm and welcoming space.
Serving the finest coffee from Black & White, August Common brewed tea, Videri hot chocolate, creative craft cocktails and beer – along with plush and comfortable sofas and seats, a player piano and bookshelves filled with arts-related titles – all of it is perfectly designed and located to mirror a similar vibe and sense of place in the heart of Wake Forest.
“Broadsides & Brews is an amazing addition to Downtown,” said Jason Cannon, President of the Wake Forest Business & Industry Partnership (WFBIP). “We’re thrilled that Joni and Bryan chose to relocate here and realize their dream by creating such a spectacular space. We thank them for contributing to the evolving culture and character on White Street and wish them every success moving forward.”
With a total investment of more than $1M to buy the building and renovate the 1,400-square-foot space with room for just under 80, Joni designed the interior herself and purchased most of the rich-colored furniture and accessories from Facebook Marketplace. “This is a community of really good taste,” she said.
Among the most notable and noticeable items is a large mirror in the back of the space reaching to the ceiling – which is rumored to have once stood and reflected images at the Biltmore House in Asheville.
In addition to having to install a large new HVAC system, and complete extensive plumbing and electrical work, the owners of the three-story building housing this new hot spot also found the original rolled copper buried under layers of paint around the windows, which reportedly took hours to remove. And according to a paranormal investigator, this space first built in 1920 is also home to a resident ghost named Paul, who once owned Western Auto and served as mayor of Wake Forest in the ’50s.
To serve B&B’s expertly crafted cocktails, the bartenders use chilled stainless steel martini glasses for their popular boozy ice cream, clear mugs for all kinds of cocktails, including standards like a bourbon Old Fashioned, and tall glasses for Joni’s favorite – a lemon sorbet and prosecco float. Joni also designed B&B’s user-friendly black-and-gold-colored website.
Already a licensed bartender herself, Joni is grateful for help from Josh Gagne, General Manager of The Haymaker and Killjoy, two cocktail bars in Raleigh, who has served as guest bartender, helped train staff, and build B&B’s menu.
“Josh has been an incredible resource and very generous with his time,” Joni said.
Gange also created a cocktail called A Toast to Joni, a twist on the French 75 with gin, champagne, and marmalade. The Old Fashioned is the bar’s best seller and they’ve also created the perfect Bloody Mary mix. And if all goes as planned, the couple, who typically work together only on Sundays, will soon open a “true speakeasy” in the basement – complete with a private entrance, secret passwords, and everything one would expect from such an establishment.
“The entire town has been so supportive,” Joni said. “Everyone loves it. We’ve retained the history of the space with the original ceiling and hardwood floors, creating a warm, cozy, and inviting environment.”
Joni and Bryan extend their gratitude to Property Specific, “especially Allison Tomlin and Carrie Hennesey, who got us the home where we now reside” – along with the “entire Wake Forest branch of Fidelity Bank.
“They are the best bankers, neighbors, and people you could ever hope to know, all in one place,” Joni said.
The couple is also grateful to B&W Hardware for “providing all the little things we didn’t know we needed,” and White Street Brewing “for always being there after a long day and night of work.”
In addition to the player piano, the owners also hope to have jazz bands, poetry readings, and cabaret nights going forward.
“It’s all still very surreal,” Joni said of the experience in her bar of dreams to date. “Last weekend I was wearing a flapper dress [from the ’20s], looking over at a friend who’s a composer on Broadway sitting at the piano with my daughter singing. It was everything I could do not to burst into tears of happiness.”
