Inspiring Conversations with Carolee Baxter of Beach Shack Bottles and Taps

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carolee Baxter.

Hi Carolee, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My husband and I became passionate about craft beer while I was working as the Producer at North Carolina Theatre. We spent a lot of time visiting breweries all over the country but especially in our home state of North Carolina. As bottle shops featuring craft beers grew in popularity, we became intrigued with them and started visiting those as well. To us, they were the neighborhood pubs of the US. Each unique in its presentation and community draw.

Around the same time, we were exploring breweries and bottle shops, we were also traveling the Caribbean frequently. We ended up in a little island in the Lesser Antilles called Anguilla. We fell in love with the feel of the island, the people, and the locally owned “toes in the sand” beach shacks.

Nearing 60 years old, I knew my days in the fast-paced, long nights, often chaotic world of theater were coming to an end. Not wanting to retire and grow older doing nothing, we began looking at business opportunities in Anguilla. Hurricane Irma brought us back to reality. The (temporary) devastation it caused along with the physical and financial logistics of moving to the island and starting a business made us regroup. Yes, we wanted our own little beach shack bar in Anguilla. But we also loved Raleigh, did not want to leave our family and friends, and really did not want to leave a place where craft beer was so predominant. We decided to open our little beach shack in Raleigh. We began looking for the right neighborhood and space. Three years later, I retired from North Carolina Theatre and seven months later, we began construction on Beach Shack Bottles and Taps.

I had no experience in starting a business or running a bar. As a producer though, I could manage large projects from start to finish and work with many personalities. I was fortunate to be surrounded by family with years of experience in the foodservice and hospitality industry. The icing on the cake was my husband’s experience in starting his own company which is still successful after 30 years. With their help, we opened our doors on November 27th, 2019.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The things I thought would be the hardest (construction, building permits, ABC permits, etc.) actually seem like cakewalk in retrospect. What I never imagined was a worldwide pandemic causing us to shut our doors less than four months after opening them. All of the pieces in getting the business up and running were time-consuming and daunting at times but in the end, it was all manageable and rewarding. Coming face to face with the uncontrollable unknown however and having to totally regroup with no end in sight was depressing and stressful. While we did have to close our doors to on site consumption, we were allowed to offer online ordering and curbside pick up. Thank goodness for my team who immediately set up a whole new online system for the Beach Shack and quickly got the word out we were here and ready to fill our patrons orders. That was great for our cans and bottles. However, we had boasted 28 taps (24 craft beers and four wines on tap) and we had a walk-in cooler filled with kegs that could not just sit there.

We invested in a canning machine and began selling crowlers to go along with our prepackaged beverages. The neighborhood supported us with their online orders and encouraging words throughout the shutdown and then with their smiling faces in our taproom once we were allowed to open back up. Without their support, and without the knowledge, creativity, and hard work of my employees, Beach Shack Bottles and Taps would have not made it out of the worst time in our world (in my lifetime.) The Beach Shack was also very lucky (thanks to the diligence of my Director of Operations) to be on the receiving end of the City of Raleigh Small Business Grant and PPP loans. While going through it, the pandemic seemed devastating and endless. Now heading on the other side of it, I can look back and recognize all of the wonderful and miraculous things that were actually happening. I am grateful.

As you know, we’re big fans of Beach Shack Bottles and Taps, Inc. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Beach Shack Bottles and Taps is a bottle shop and taproom specializing in craft beer and boutique wines. We like to say that we have beer and wine with an island state of mind. We have 24 beers on tap, four wines on tap, and over 100 different cans/bottles to go. We keep all of our beer cold as craft beer should be. We have beers from all over the country but our biggest selection is from North Carolina which in our opinion has the best of the craft breweries.

The interior of our shop and taproom is a hat tip to the beach bars all over the world. If you can’t get to the beach, come to the Beach Shack! Along with our great beer, wine, and beach shack vibe, we have eleven TVs; ten are dedicated to whatever sports are in season and one plays a continuous live stream from an island bar (favorites are Anguilla’s Roy’s Bayside Grill, St. John’s Beach Bar, and Jost van Dyke’s Soggy Dollar Bar). For outdoor lovers, we have seating out front and on our back deck. We are family-friendly and dog friendly. We have a shelf of games and recently added a pinball machine. All of this takes a back seat to our wide variety of delicious beer and wine.

We are open seven days a week; 365 days a year. #findyourbeachshack

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
For anyone wanting to open their own business, don’t be surprised at feeling overwhelmed. There are so many moving pieces; accept that as normal. Tackle one detail at a time and be willing to adapt if there is a roadblock. Do not be afraid to ask questions; it’s not showing ignorance, it’s showing readiness to learn.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: beachshackbottlesandtaps.com
• Instagram: @beachshackbottlestaps
• Facebook: Beach Shack Bottles & Taps
• Twitter: @beachshackbott1

Image Credits
James Forgey