He directed high school bands for Rock Hill and Clover. Now he’s opening a tap house

Joe Gulledge has a background that is vastly different from the new business he has ventured into.

The decades-long high school band director will open a tap house in an historic landmark near downtown Rock Hill.

The self-pour bar, called Hoppin’ Rock Hill, will open Saturday in an old converted cotton warehouse on Southern Street. The old red warehouse had the word “cotton” painted in white before its transformation.

One year ago, Gulledge retired after seven years as the Clover High School band director. Before that, he was band director at Rock Hill High School for 18 years.

“I finished up my 28 years in education last June — my wife actually finished as well (Suzanne Gulledge)— she was a high school guidance counselor,” Gulledge said. “And we sort of decided it was the right time to take on a new venture.”

Hoppin’ Rock Hill is a franchise of Hoppin’ Brands, located in Charlotte’s South End section, which opened in 2017. There’s also a Greenville, S.C., location.

Hoppin’ will have 64 tabs of beer, wine and cocktails that patrons can pour themselves. There will be 52 beers on tap. Patrons can pour a small sample or a full-sized glass, depending on their tastes, Gulledge said. They are only charged for what they pour.

“That’s where some of the success has been,” Gulledge said.

The system is monitored by technology.

Each patron receives a wristband, which serves as their tab. There is a 32-ounce limit. Once the customer receives the wristband, they tap the screen of a tablet that keeps track of how many ounces they get, Gulledge said.

“The technology makes this appealing to a large crowd,” he said. “You can get different ounces…it is truly your experience.”

Hoppin’ does not brew its own beer.

There is diversity in the brands and types of drinks offered, Gulledge said. Patrons can choose from commercial brands of beer from local brewers. Gulledge said a wall of taps will feature beer from Rock Hill breweries.

There’s also wine and cocktails

Hoppin’ also will offer non-alcoholic drinks The price of those is based on alcohol percentage and volume.

But the system limits are enforced.

When the 32 ounces have been poured, patrons will have the ability to have more ounces added to their wristband.

Gulledge said he went to the Charlotte Hoppin’ location several years ago and thought the self-pour concept was a neat idea.

“Once we started putting the pieces together, I reached out to the owner just to ask him some questions,” Gulledge said. “And then at the end of that conversation, he said they were looking to franchise and if we were interested, that he would be interested in helping and the rest is history.”

The cotton warehouse is not the only structure connected to the cotton factory. And it’s not the only former cotton building in the alcohol business. A small brick building adjacent to the property that has the word “cotton” on the front — an old cotton grading office — is now a rum distillery called Sleeping Giant.

Gulledge said the warehouse was ideal for the tap house.

The original warehouse was built in 1902. Construction crews have stripped everything out of the building, he said.

Gulledge said they have added 13 TVs and a “very aggressive” sound system for live music. The tap house has a stage for bands and DJs.

The front of the building has a yard with fire pits, corn hole and yard games.

In addition to the drinks, Hoppin’ Rock Hill will have a food option. Gulledge has partnered with Kounter in Rock Hill to provide a food truck called Twisted Eats.

A new mural

One of the features of the tap house is a new mural painted on an outside wall by artists Sydney Duarte and Treazy Treaz. The new mural called “Light of a New Dawn,” focuses on the natural elements of wildflowers and animals that are native to South Carolina and “to remind us that it is our role in the present to preserve Mother Nature in order to have a prosperous future,” Duarte told Visit York County.

The new mural is part of Rock Hill’s Mural Mill initiative, which is an effort to install about 10 murals on various city buildings or streets within one mile of downtown and textile corridors.

Hoppin’ Rock Hill will have a grand opening party Saturday from noon - 11:30 p.m. with live music 4-7 p.m. and a D.J. 8:30-11:30 p.m. The Twisted Eats food truck will be onsite. Visit the Hoppin’ RH Facebook page to download party tickets.