Thirsty Beaver
Bar in Charlotte, North Carolina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Thirsty Beaver is a bar (sometimes referred to as a dive bar) surrounded by an apartment complex, in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. The establishment was started in a one-story building by two brothers in 2008. When established, the property was surrounded by vacant lots but in 2015, a development company purchased all of the land surrounding the bar. When George Salem, property owner and landlord to the Thirsty Beaver held out against two offers from a developer, the development company built apartments in a horseshoe shape around the building.
| Thirsty Beaver | |
|---|---|
The Thirsty Beaver in 2018 | |
  Location within North Carolina  Thirsty Beaver (the United States) | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 2008 |
| Owner(s) | Brian and Mark Wilson |
| Location | 1225 Central Ave, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, 28204, US |
| Coordinates | 35.2213°N 80.8173°W |
History
The owners of the Thirsty Beaver are brothers Brian and Mark Wilson,[1] who lease the bar from the property owner, George Salem. The Salem family owns the building and the strip of land where the bar sits.[2] Salem has said that the land has been in his family for many years and he did not want to sell it.[3] The bar was opened in 2008 and it was meant to be a neighborhood bar.[4] The bar was surrounded by vacant lots at the time.[5]
The Thirsty Beaver is located in the Plaza-Midwood neighborhood of Charlotte, North Carolina.[6] It is one story tall and occupies 1,200 sq ft (110 m2).[7] The bar garnered attention when developers Crosland Southeast and Nuveen Real Estate began construction of an apartment complex in the immediate area and tried – but failed – to purchase the bar's property.[6] The Washington Post stated that "this small dive bar is a middle finger to the development surrounding it".[8] The bar's survival became what owner Mark Wilson referred to as "a protest".[4]
In 2013, the owners of the vacant land around the building erected a fence which surrounded the building. Patrons of the Thirsty Beaver began attaching signs of support to the fence and some attached brassieres.[3] The fire inspector assisted the bar owners in getting the fence removed and the bar remained open.[7] In 2015, CW Development purchased all of the land around the Thirsty Beaver for US$8.5 million (equivalent to $11.5 million in 2025[9]).[3] The land was sold to develop a 323-unit apartment complex.[7]
The developer twice offered to purchase the Thirsty Beaver property, but both offers were rejected.[7] The developer stated, "We've made several attempts through the entire development process to acquire that property, very unsuccessfully."[3]
When the owners of the land would not sell, an apartment building was constructed and wrapped around the Thirsty Beaver in the shape of a horseshoe.[1] The Associated Press said the bar had become "Charlotte's own version of the house from Up, the Pixar movie".[10]
Features
The bar has been described as "quirky". On an orange side of the building is a large beaver with bloodshot eyes wearing a cowboy hat and boots.[10] The Charlotte Observer noted that there are "dozens of bras nailed to the entrances".[11] On the walls of the bar are a picture of Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, a poster for Bartles & Jaymes, and lunchboxes depicting the shows Hee Haw and Gunsmoke.[12] In 2015, a church was holding services at the bar on one Sunday afternoon of every month.[12]
In 2021, the establishment received national attention when Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones posted an image on social media of himself drinking there.[13]
Gallery
The bar in 2022
Image of the beaver mural
Sign on the front of the building
See also
- Edith Macefield, owner of a similar home in Seattle, Washington
- List of dive bars
