Sometimes, business dreams are worth waiting for. When Andrew Phifer, an engineer, and his wife, Rachel, an accountant, found themselves more apart than together because of their jobs, they started thinking of what they could do together that both would enjoy. With inspiration from their own “good girl” Kate the rescue dog, the idea for Good Girl Brewing Company was born.
In 2021, they found the perfect spot at 880 Banks Mill Road in Aiken, next door to Citizens Park and the former location of Found Treasures, an antique and consignment store which closed in 2020.
Though Covid put a hold on bank funding for restaurants and breweries and through several iterations of their original plan, the Phifer’s finally broke ground on their vision in February of 2023.
More than a year later after zoning permits, remodeling, construction delays, installing brewery equipment, and calibrations, the doors opened on May 7.
“Yes, it’s taken a while, but we wanted to be sure everything was exactly right before opening, so the wait was worth it,” explained Rachel.
That attention to detail isn’t lost on their newfound fans who seem to love the brews, the food, and being able to bring their dogs to Good Girl Brewing.
“It’s been humbling and exciting to feel the love from the community. We’ve even had folks and their dogs come in from all around the CSRA and beyond.”
Good Girl Brewing is a family affair with a little help from their friends. The owners aside from the Phifers, include Rachel’s parents, and good friends Paul and Morgan Batton. They also have 35 employees on their team including servers, line cooks, and bussers.
“My mom, Margaret Warren is the Executive Chef even if she doesn’t claim the title. Many of the recipes are hers including the pimento cheese and Carolina Caviar, a version of dip made with beans, corn, tomatoes, peppers, and onions.”
There are also pretzels with beer cheese, salads, and sandwiches on the menu including Philly Cheesesteaks, burgers, and three different styles of hotdogs.
Humans can eat inside and if you bring your favorite canine, there is outdoor seating with umbrellas, lighting, and a beautiful view with plenty of room for your dogs to roll in the grass.
“We are thankful for the comradery and support from fellow brewers like Savannah River Brewing. This has been a phenomenal experience.”
Since the closing of Aiken Brewing Company last spring after 26 years in business, Good Girl is the only local brewery in Aiken.
Good Girl Brewing Company is open Tuesday through Thursday, from 11:00 am until 10:00 pm, Friday and Saturday from 11:00 am until 11:00 pm, and Sunday from 11:00 am until 9:00 pm. You can follow them on Facebook here.
Editor’s note: Sadly Kate, the namesake and image for Good Girl Brewing Company passed away in January of this year. She lived a good life because she was a good girl. Her memory will live on through the Phifer’s dream.
Editor’s Note:
Mitzi Oxford is a veteran broadcaster and features writer who also worked at the same television station in Columbus, Georgia as Augusta’s Brad Means! If you have a South Carolina story idea for Mitzi, please email her at mitzioxfordcreative@gmail.com.
