Fayetteville is growing. Downtown is seeing its own growth and revitalization of existing buildings that mark the humble beginnings of the All America City.
The newest addition to the Downtown area is 226 The Warehouse, located in the old Cotton Exchange building located at 226 Donaldson Street. Nestled on a side street right off Hay Street, 226 has a sophisticated atmosphere before you even open the doors. From the sign that hangs above the double, temperance glass doors, to the restored brick and wood inside, the space serves as the perfect backdrop for an array of occasions.
The space boasts a brand-new elevated DJ booth, and 2 fully stocked bars, one serving the downstairs area and one for the upstairs mezzanine and private lounge area. Downstairs is an open-space concept with several luxury private booths for guests to sit and enjoy a more intimate space while still enjoying the festivities.
Keeping some of the essence of the previous long-term tenants, several antique fixtures were kept and incorporated into the new space. The antiques and modern fixtures serve as perfect backdrops for any occasion. The Mezzanine also has a fully stocked bar and custom-made tables and railings, offering cup spaces for those who are standing. Owners Robert Savage and Andre Thomas have been very meticulous in the details they added to the space. Ladies can find purse hangers methodically placed around the space and custom-built cup holders in the upstairs area for standing guests. Every inch of the space has been well thought out and the process from purchasing the building to the ribbon cutting took two years.
Savage, a St. Thomas, Jamaica native, father, husband, and retired CW4 is no stranger to opening and operating a business. He and his wife also own a hair replacement center. When Thomas asked him to walk over to The Cotton Exchange one evening after a drink at the Livery Cigar Emporium, Savage was open to the idea of bringing something different to the downtown area.
“I saw what this place could be, and I saw that we could actually make a change for what is in Fayetteville. The space is 8,000 square feet. I [said] we can make something upscale for Fayetteville. And it took us a very, very long time to get it, a bit over two years to get it where it’s at. My buddy Jose and I did 90 % of the work in here. We didn’t have contractors. We had specialty tradesmen who came in, the electricity and plumbing and so forth. But this was a massive undertaking, so Andre and I, we [held] true to our vision of making something exclusive for Fayetteville,” Savage explained. Co-owner Andre Thomas, a Chicago native and also a retired military member, has always loved a good party, and opening 226 The Warehouse was just a natural progression for him.
“I’ve always liked entertainment. Something like this was just playing into who I [have] always been. I used to do parties at different locations and things of that nature. So it was like hey, how about having somewhere where you can host your own events?” Thomas said.
Keeping the integrity of the building was important to Savage.
“[The] majority of everything that you see in here was already here. If it’s on the wall, it was here before… We didn’t want to do drywall because [the] original structure was wood. We want[ed] to keep the natural color of the wood. For all the stains, we used a light stain,” he said.
All of the design choices and preservation have led to a unique, one-of-a-kind space that is perfect for hosting a variety of events including weddings, receptions, balls, fashion shows, art shows, comedy shows, and of course parties. Through collaborations they have made themselves a one-stop shop, offering access to a range of caterers, decorators, and DJs. It took several years of work to open, and Savage and Thomas are thankful for all who have helped to get them ready.
“There are so many people, that contributed their time and their energy and sacrificed so much for us to get here,” Thomas said.
To book your event or tour the space visit the website at https://www.226thewarehousenc.com/ or send an inquiry via email to 226thewarehouse@gmail.com.