Core Store

We recently heard a tasty little tidbit about Core Brewing Co.

The Springdale brewery is expanding into Fayetteville. At some point in the first quarter of 2014, Core will be pouring suds at a 2,000-SF location at the southwest corner of Joyce Boulevard and Crossover Road.

Core, of course, is pouring nothing but its own brews, and once regulations are met, its own brand of moonshine.

When Core first started making headlines, Jesse Core, the brewery’s founder, said he wanted his beer to be Arkansas’ brand. With about 200 accounts scattered across this region and in central Arkansas, and with canning on the way, Core appears to be in hot pursuit of his goal.

It should come as no surprise that Core is opening a storefront in Fayetteville. From the beginning, the entertainment capital of Northwest Arkansas embraced Core, and from what we heard back in the day, officials there even asked Core to open his brewery in their city, not in Springdale.

Hats off to Core for sticking with the blue-collar town. Of all the major cities in Northwest Arkansas, Springdale is in the greatest need of a facelift. And Core gives Springdale a great reason to be in the news. It’s home to the state’s largest brewery, and as the Core brand grows, Springdale’s name will travel farther and farther.

There are a few folks in Core’s own backyard, though, who still haven’t come to accept the fact that Core is a big deal. And Jim Phillips, head of the Springdale Liquor Association, appears to be one of them. Core products still cannot be found in any of the seven Springdale liquor stores controlled by Phillips, and the same is true of the one store owned by his wife, Merry Lee Phillips.

Contrast that with Core’s arrival at Liquor World, the Fayetteville superstore owned by booze baron Kent Starr. Shortly after Core brought its bombers and growlers to the market, they were stocked in the coolers at Liquor World. Employees there even toured the brewery so they could better sell a local product to local consumers. 

From what we understand, Phillips still has a grudge against Core because he supported the 2010 opening of Macadoodles at Elm Springs Road, which effectively killed the Phillips liquor monopoly in Springdale.

While it may have been understandable if Phillips was upset, that was more than three years ago. Isn’t it time to move on, stock the coolers with Core beer, ring the cash register and call it a day?