Discover the Best of Craft Beer and Elevated Street Food at The Summit Beer Shop in Mount Holly, NC
- Courtney Thomas
- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
On any given evening in downtown Mount Holly, NC laughter drifts through the air, glasses clink, and the hum of conversation spills onto Main Street. At the center of it all is The Summit Beer Shop, a laid-back local hangout that’s as much about community as it is about craft beer.
The Summit Beer Shop: Craft, Community, and the Heart of Mount Holly
Opened in 2018 by Jonathan Todd, The Summit Beer Shop quickly became more than just a bottle shop. It became a gathering place where friends meet after work, new faces are always welcome, and good beer sparks great conversation. What started as a neighborhood spot has turned into a destination for beer lovers across Gaston County and beyond.
"I grew up in Mount Holly, went to school and church here,” Jonathan shared. “When I decided to work for myself, I knew it was the right time to come back home.”
That move changed more than just his career path; it helped redefine what Mount Holly’s downtown could be. In 2018, The Summit Beer Shop became the first bar to open on Main Street after years when the community wasn’t sure bars belonged downtown. Jonathan and his team set out to change that perception, offering not only great drinks but also a warm, professional, and community-driven atmosphere.
Mount Holly's Craft Beer: Achieving Excellence
So why the name The Summit?
"In our industry, the summit represents the top — the pinnacle — the best,” Jonathan explained. “We wanted a name that reflected our goal: to provide the best craft beer in the county.”
That commitment is clear the moment you walk in. The Summit Beer Shop boasts 24 rotating taps, one of the largest draft systems in Gaston County. Along with more than 300 varieties of beer and wine available for purchase. The constantly changing tap list ensures that every visit feels like a new discovery.
Jonathan credits much of the shop’s beer selection and success to his bar manager, Stephanie Messers, who curates the lineup with an expert eye. “We keep it diverse: IPAs, porters, stouts, sours, pilsners, there’s always something new on tap,” he said. “We like to stay on the edge of what’s next.”
Where Community and Beer Unite
But The Summit’s story isn’t just about what’s on tap, it’s about connection. “Most of the businesses downtown work well together and collaborate on things,” Jonathan said. “That, in itself, creates its own environment, and The Summit has played a big role in that.”
From hosting Mount Holly’s first craft beer festival in 2018 to fostering lasting relationships with local brewers like Keepsake Brewery in Gastonia, The Summit has helped build a craft culture rooted in community pride.
Jonathan and his staff are known for their personal touch, often guiding guests through the world of craft beer, one style at a time. “When someone says they drink Coors Light, we’ll say, ‘Then you’ll like this pilsner.’ We’ve educated people through the years who didn’t know much about craft beer and helped them discover what they really enjoy,” he said.
A Fresh Take: Halfway Cooks Street Food at The Summit Beer Shop
The latest addition to The Summit Beer Shop family, Halfway Cooks, is turning heads and appetites. Built inside a repurposed shipping container, this full-service kitchen blends innovation with local flavor.
Jonathan explained, “We always wanted to do our own food, but we didn’t know how at first. We started with food trucks.Eventually, we thought, ‘Let’s do our own thing."
Inspired by shipping container developments in Wilmington, Jonathan and Stephanie brought the concept home. “No one had ever done it here before, so it fit our mantra of doing something different. It was a learning process for everyone, but it worked. And it’s one of the coolest things we’ve done.”
Halfway Cooks serves what Jonathan calls “elevated street food,” simple dishes with creative twists. “We take something you might buy from a food vendor and elevate it,” he said. “Like our burger. It comes one way, and it’s not your average burger. Our food is as creative and diverse as our beer list.”
Celebrating Seven Years
Now celebrating seven years, The Summit Beer Shop continues to be a place where locals and visitors alike feel at home, whether they’re there for a date night, a casual drink, or a taste of something new.
Jonathan summed it up best: “We just don’t want to be like anybody else. We want our stuff to stand out, and we want to keep giving people in Mount Holly something to be proud of.”
So next time you’re in Mount Holly, stop by The Summit Beer Shop and Taproom, grab a flight, order some elevated street food from Halfway Cooks, and experience firsthand how one local dream helped transform a downtown, one pint at a time.
Plan Your Visit
The Summit Craft Bottle Shop and Taproom in Mount Holly
104 S. Main Street, Mount Holly, NC
24 rotating taps | 300+ craft beers & wines | Full-service kitchen by Halfway Cooks
Experience the flavor of Mount Holly’s growing craft and culinary scene. Follow The Summit on Facebook and Instagram to explore the latest beer selections and creative bites from Halfway Cooks. Then plan your visit at GoGastonNC.org to discover more local spots where craft meets community in the heart of downtown Mount Holly.
Authentic Gaston story and interview by Courtney Thomas, of Gaston County Tourism Development and local resident. Photos by Stephanie Messers, of Summit Beer and Halfway Cooks
