Wharf Hill Brewing Company
WHBC is a full-service restaurant, bar, and craft brewery that also offers an event space for special functions. We feature beers by our brewers, Dave Walker and Tom Owen (both also owners), including the Isle of Wheat, Outage IPA, Holy Brale, and more.
When you come in, you'll not find TVs or Wifi, but you will be greeted by the friendliest staff in town and engage in quality conversation with those around you. Now take a load off with friends and fellows and rediscover with us the art of Smithfield's hospitality and comradery. Cheers!
Building Accommodations
WHBC is a full service brewpub with a fully stocked bar, kitchen, and brewery. Where there was once three separated businesses, we now offer a bar, and two dining rooms.
The Barroom
Our bar accommodates up to 40 people and features a full-service bar. We have ten beers on draft: five WHBC brews and five guest taps. We also offer an excellent wine list and spirits blended by fearless mixologists.
You can perch at the bar on bar stools or rest on the banquette—our beer bench built from lumber saved from a 1900 school house.
Those inclined to misbehave can stand in the corner.
The Dining Room
We offer seats for 60 diners at our four chair tables or three consecrated booths. The tables are made from roofing boards from the schoolhouse and feature 1970's German beer coasters. Tables can be combined to accommodate larger families, or you may slide into a booth. Our booth benches are built from 1915 oak church pews. (Hey, Monks drank beer and wine…) Purring ceiling fans and vintage lighting hang from our 1920's metal ceiling to wash our dining room with warm conviviality.
The Sinclair Room
Our second dining room is newly renovated in the style of the rest of the restaurant. Features include flooring recovered from Fort Monroe, tables fashioned from a felled Poplar Tree (thanks Hurricane Irene!), and 1906 stage boards from the Elk's Hall relocated from the 2nd floor. Our room is fully handicapped accessible and leads to the Dining Room and Bar beyond.
Restrooms
We have THREE (and they are all Ladies Rooms). Our three bathrooms are designed for accessibility, open on 1840's doors and 1920's metal ceilings. You won't find a nicer Comfort Room on Wharf Hill!
WHBC History
WHBC sits on the steep "Wharf Hill" section of Main St. in Smithfield's Historic District. The Hill drops to Commerce St and the mighty Pagan River, where peanut factories, Ham Packing Houses, and the Steamboats once ruled. The 1760's Todd House graces the opposite side of the Street, the first spot where hams were exported from Hamtown.
During Segregation, Wharf Hill was the "Black Business District" of Smithfield. From the Pagan River up to the Corner of main and Church St, the businesses and buildings were owned, operated, and patronized by African Americans. The Heart of this bustling district was The Elk's Hall.
Known simply as the "Elks", their proper name was the Improved Benevolent Protectorate of Elks of the World, and amid the many disadvantages of the Segregated South, the Improved Elks flourished and their Hall became the "Crown Jewel" of Wharf Hill.
The Elk's Building was built in 1906, was divided into three shop-fronts down stairs, and a 3000 sq ft. "Hall" upstairs. The entire downstairs initially sold tractor implements (1913 Sanborn Map). The Elks bought the building in 1919, and proceeded to rent the three 1st floor businesses to black businesspersons. The Elk's reserved the upstairs as their "Hall", which featured 2000 sq ft of dance and dining space, a stage for live bands, and a fully-stocked bar. A separate room was partitioned for their ceremonial garb, files, and records. The Hall hosted private parties 90 years, and during it's heyday, Friday and Saturday nights were "Standing Room Only" on the sidewalk outside the Hall.
The first floor of the Elk's Building was divided into 21, 23, and 27 main Streets. The "Hall" on the 2nd floor was designated "25". For simplicity and reference, 21 is now WHBC's Bar, 23 is the Dining Room, and 27 is our Banquette Hall.
From the 20's until the mid-fiftes, 21 Main St. operated in the "fashion forward" color of black. The proprietor wore black suits. His carriage and horse wore black. His customers wore black. His name was Henry Tynes and he was an undertaker (1926 Sanborn Map). The dapper Mr. Tynes ran a brisk business and in 1953 he expanded into the vacant lot downhill of the Lodge (the Coal Yard), and 21 Main St changed tenants.
When Mr. Tynes transferred to 19 main St (now our Kitchen and Brewery), his parlor became far more vivacious as Claudette's Beauty Palace. Ms. Claudette primped and pampered lovely ladies from the 50's to the 80's, and may have assisted Mr. Tynes, as everyone wants to look their best on their big day.
WHBC is a full-service restaurant, bar, and craft brewery. We feature beers by our brewers, Dave Walker and Tom Owen (both also owners), including the Isle of Wheat, Outage IPA, Holy Brale, and more.
When you come in, you'll not find TVs or Wifi, but you will be greeted by the friendliest staff in town and engage in quality conversation with those around you. Now take a load off with friends and fellows and rediscover with us the art of Smithfield's hospitality and comradery. Cheers!
Building Accommodations
WHBC is a full service brewpub with a fully stocked bar, kitchen, and brewery. Where there was once three separated businesses, we now offer a bar, and two dining rooms.
The Barroom
Our bar accommodates up to 40 people and features a full-service bar. We have ten beers on draft: five WHBC brews and five guest taps. We also offer an excellent wine list and spirits blended by fearless mixologists.
You can perch at the bar on bar stools or rest on the banquette—our beer bench built from lumber saved from a 1900 school house.
Those inclined to misbehave can stand in the corner.
The Dining Room
We offer seats for 60 diners at our four chair tables or three consecrated booths. The tables are made from roofing boards from the schoolhouse and feature 1970's German beer coasters. Tables can be combined to accommodate larger families, or you may slide into a booth. Our booth benches are built from 1915 oak church pews. (Hey, Monks drank beer and wine…) Purring ceiling fans and vintage lighting hang from our 1920's metal ceiling to wash our dining room with warm conviviality.
The Sinclair Room
Our second dining room is newly renovated in the style of the rest of the restaurant. Features include flooring recovered from Fort Monroe, tables fashioned from a felled Poplar Tree (thanks Hurricane Irene!), and 1906 stage boards from the Elk's Hall relocated from the 2nd floor. Our room is fully handicapped accessible and leads to the Dining Room and Bar beyond.
Restrooms
We have THREE (and they are all Ladies Rooms). Our three bathrooms are designed for accessibility, open on 1840's doors and 1920's metal ceilings. You won't find a nicer Comfort Room on Wharf Hill!
WHBC History
WHBC sits on the steep "Wharf Hill" section of Main St. in Smithfield's Historic District. The Hill drops to Commerce St and the mighty Pagan River, where peanut factories, Ham Packing Houses, and the Steamboats once ruled. The 1760's Todd House graces the opposite side of the Street, the first spot where hams were exported from Hamtown.
During Segregation, Wharf Hill was the "Black Business District" of Smithfield. From the Pagan River up to the Corner of main and Church St, the businesses and buildings were owned, operated, and patronized by African Americans. The Heart of this bustling district was The Elk's Hall.
Known simply as the "Elks", their proper name was the Improved Benevolent Protectorate of Elks of the World, and amid the many disadvantages of the Segregated South, the Improved Elks flourished and their Hall became the "Crown Jewel" of Wharf Hill.
The Elk's Building was built in 1906, was divided into three shop-fronts down stairs, and a 3000 sq ft. "Hall" upstairs. The entire downstairs initially sold tractor implements (1913 Sanborn Map). The Elks bought the building in 1919, and proceeded to rent the three 1st floor businesses to black businesspersons. The Elk's reserved the upstairs as their "Hall", which featured 2000 sq ft of dance and dining space, a stage for live bands, and a fully-stocked bar. A separate room was partitioned for their ceremonial garb, files, and records. The Hall hosted private parties 90 years, and during it's heyday, Friday and Saturday nights were "Standing Room Only" on the sidewalk outside the Hall.
The first floor of the Elk's Building was divided into 21, 23, and 27 main Streets. The "Hall" on the 2nd floor was designated "25". For simplicity and reference, 21 is now WHBC's Bar, 23 is the Dining Room, and 27 is our Banquette Hall.
From the 20's until the mid-fiftes, 21 Main St. operated in the "fashion forward" color of black. The proprietor wore black suits. His carriage and horse wore black. His customers wore black. His name was Henry Tynes and he was an undertaker (1926 Sanborn Map). The dapper Mr. Tynes ran a brisk business and in 1953 he expanded into the vacant lot downhill of the Lodge (the Coal Yard), and 21 Main St changed tenants.
When Mr. Tynes transferred to 19 main St (now our Kitchen and Brewery), his parlor became far more vivacious as Claudette's Beauty Palace. Ms. Claudette primped and pampered lovely ladies from the 50's to the 80's, and may have assisted Mr. Tynes, as everyone wants to look their best on their big day.
In 2011, the Elk's building was for sale and falling apart. Building owner, and original WHBC owner Lee Duncan saw an opportunity to do something with the space. Now there's a brewpub in a 1906 building that has more stories than the packing plant has hams, and if you'd like, here's a bit about it:
Lee is a big fan of old material-it's full of character and forgiving for the imprecise carpenter—and we've got it in Spades. Every board and nail hole in WHBC is a century-old or more and originated from the building itself or some doomed structure nearby. Nothing was removed from restorable buildings, only from places that the owners wanted down and gone. Because the structures were built a century ago or more, they are American-made, cut from older, slow-growth trees, and unique to the area (yellow pine!)
- Top: flooring from the Elk's Lodge.
- Front: Beaded-board from various rooms and decades (original paint).
- Foot Board: Chewed-up white oak floor boards from Slick Nurney's pig barn (Jonestown Rd, IOW County).
- Floor Boards: Elk's Lodge (check out the 75 year-old gum!).
- Ceiling: Original wood ceiling with metal in back (Slick Nurnery's House, 2nd floor).
- Settle (Beer Bench) and Green Waincoting: from Comet School, 1900 (taken down April, 2014).
- Deer Head: "Gina" was in the funeral parlor (19 Main St) where they used to park the Hearse.
- Bottle Lights: Pre-Prohibition Bottles drunk and buried by construction workers during foundation construction, 1906 (found in a cache under the Banquette Room floor).
- Brass Coffin Stands: Left in the funeral parlor near "Gina".
Dining Room
- Pressed Metal Ceiling: replaced original wood ceiling destroyed by fire.
- Booth Benches: 1915 Oak pews from Episcopal Mission Church in Port Norfolk, P-Town.
- Booth Partitions: Truss Boards from Comet School, 1900.
- Tables: Roofing boards from Comet School, Beer Coasters Bier stolen from German Beer Halls by Albert Burckhardt in the 1970's.
- Nautical Maps: Maps of the Thames River featuring Wharves, 1930's.
- Indian Canoe: Discovered by Johnnie Wells in 1980, Mill Swamp. Age…OLD.
- Mirror: Barback from Jamestown Hotel, 1898-1977, Main St., transfered to Jones Grill 1920-1986.
- Wall Sconces: Art Deco, Tidewater.
Bathrooms
- Doors: Spady House, Chuckatuck, 1840.
- Ceiling: Pressed Metal, Slick Nurney's House, (Blue was Gus Nurney's bedroom, Pink was his sisters) 1920's.
- Wainscoting: Weathered boards from Robert Cox's first jonnie house, 1834.
- Mirrors: Made from reclaimed decking, David Pruden, 2014.
Hallway
- Crown Molding: Fascia Boards, Comet School, 1900.
- Banquette Hall Landing:
- Ceiling: Pressed metal from Elk's Lodge (1906)
- Crown Molding: Pressed Metal from Shoe Shop @ 17 Main St (1907).
- Floor: Mosaic Tile paying homage to original businesses, WHBC, 2/12/15.
Sinclair Room
- Floor: Recovered from Fort Monroe, Hampton, Age unknown.
- Posts and beam: Spady House, 1840 (salvaged August, 2012).
- Stage: Boards from original Elk's Hall stage 1906.
- Wainscoting: Bead board, Elk's Lodge, Handrail, Spady House.
- Chairs: (1890's-1950) are from old churches scattered around Hampton Roads and apparently, the University of Pittsburgh. The churches range in domination from Methodist to Episcopal to NCAA Football. Nine of the chairs are from Mt. Gilead AME Church located in Newsomes, Southampton County.
- Tables: Built from a massive poplar tree felled by Hurricane Irene in 2010 at the corner of Jonestown and Raynor roads in IOW County. Old coins found in the building are embedded in the table finish.
- Shutters: From some old farmhouse around here-a donation from Albert Burkhardt, Historius Insaneous.
- Counter Weights: Made from sash weights from the Elks Lodge, old rough cut lumber, and the artistic genious of Meghan Pugh.
- Pew: Oak. Hand-made in 1915 for the Port Norfolk Episcopal Mission Church, P-town.
- Waitstaff Partition: Made from boards from the Comet School roof system (yellow pine, ca.1900), an old porch post from the original house at 390 Church street (poplar, ca. 1891), and the railing at the top is from the 1840 Spady House in Chuckatuck (yellow pine lighter wood).
- Fluted Cast Iron Post in shuttered window #2: Original to building, oddly enclosed in wall.
- Oyster Tong Hooks: Wrought Iron from a found (half buried, long abandoned) wagon wheel, forged by Chris Smith.
- Table bases: Recycled from the old Bennigan's Restaurant on Mercury in Hampton.