MORE THAN A
BAR & RESTURANT
A downtown Brevard landmark
with over 100 years of stories.
The building that is now home to Wine Down on Main has been a gathering place for travelers, dreamers, artists and friends for more than a century.
We are honored to continue that tradition.
The Building We Call Home
Built in the early 1900s, this building has been part of the heart of downtown Brevard for generations. Every floor, every brick and every doorway holds a story.
Today – Wine Down on Main
Since opening in 2015, Wine Down on Main has been a place where friends gather over great wine, food and conversation. Today, Beth and Fred Schenberg are proud to continue that tradition while creating new memories for future generations.
Building on more than a century of hospitality within these walls, they remain committed to preserving the welcoming spirit that has made this building a special part of downtown Brevard.
Through The Years
1916 – 1923 • The Crary Hotel*
The building’s best-known early chapter began in 1916 when it became home to the Crary Hotel. For seven years, travelers visiting Brevard stayed here while exploring the mountains and growing downtown community.
1923 – 1930s • The Breese Building
After the hotel closed, local attorney W.E. Breese purchased the property and transformed the second floor into offices while bringing new businesses to the storefronts below. During this period, the building became known as the Breese Building and continued serving as a center of business activity in downtown Brevard.
1930s – 1940s • Shops, Markets & Community Life
Over the next decade, the building housed a variety of businesses including grocery stores, markets, cafes, barber shops and professional offices. During World War II, even the County Rationing Board operated from the building.
Like much of downtown Brevard, the building adapted to meet the changing needs of the community.
1950s – 1960s • Local Shopping Destination
As Brevard continued to grow, the building became home to children’s clothing stores, fabric shops, sewing centers and professional offices. By the late 1960s, Water’s Florist occupied the storefront, beginning a long connection between the building and creative local businesses.
1970s • Florists & Artists
The 1970s brought both Myers Florist and the Brush & Palette art studio to the building. Creativity flourished here as flowers, artwork and local craftsmanship became part of its story.
1980s – 1990s • Business & Renewal**
Real estate offices, builders and local businesses continued to occupy the space throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Extensive renovations during the early 1990s helped preserve the historic building while preparing it for future generations of tenants and visitors.
1995 • A Favorite Gathering Place – Essence of Thyme
Many local residents also remember the building as home to a coffee shop where friends gathered, conversations flowed and community connections were made. For many Brevard locals, some of their favorite memories of downtown happened right here.
Historic information courtesy of Mike Griffin and HistoricBrevardNC.com.
See full article here on HistoricBrevardNC.com.
* The Hotel Crary in 1917. The original photo was from the May 3, 1918 edition of the Brevard News.
** Essence of Thyme, a coffee shop in the Breese Building. This photo appeared in the March 31, 1995 issue of The Clarion- The Brevard College Student Newspaper. It has been AI-enhanced for clarity.