Pioneering West Ashley beer bar Oak Barrel Tavern taps out after 13 years
by Lorne Chambers | Editor
The beer world has changed a lot in the last decade and a half. Through all the revolving trends and tastes the Oak Barrel Tavern has been there pouring pint after pint. For more than 13 years, the pioneering Avondale beer bar has been more than just another waterhole in West Ashley. For many, the Oak Barrel Tavern was like Cheers, a place where everybody knew your name and was always glad you came. There was even a good chance that the bartenders knew what style of beer you liked and could offer a suggestion from its ever-rotating tap list. Sadly, at the end of 2023, owners Gavin Lyons and Ali Karamsichani made the tough decision to shutter the doors.
From an outsider’s perspective, it was hard to understand how a place that was packed on most nights of the week could close up shop. But there is always more than meets the eye in the food and beverage industry, particularly in Charleston, where the city’s popularity is both a blessing and a curse. Rents continue to climb and landlords continue to ride the wave as out-of-town money often pushes local businesses aside.
One only needs to look at the changing face of Avondale to see that the plucky local enclave it was just a few years ago is evolving, for better or worse. Ultimately, the Oak Barrel owners were unable to arrive at a lease renewal that they felt was sustainable for the tiny bar. Also, Lyons and Karamsichani were exhausted. The two were personally at the bar nearly every night, Lyons pouring beer and wine, Karamsichani (a.k.a. Sushi Ninja) rolling sushi and slicing sashimi in the back corner.
“We were packed almost all the time, thanks to Ali doing the sushi, and that’s kind of a big factor,” explained Lyons. “We had completely outgrown the space. No kitchen or room for extra coolers made it taxing. Being slammed in such a small space got exhausting. Obviously, rising rents played a big part. But we had done all we could with 600 square feet, and we think we made the best use out of what we had.”
In the final week, regulars and past patrons jammed into the Oak Barrel for one more pint and one more round of sushi. It was a mixture of celebration and lamentation for most. It certainly was for the West Of Free Press staff. Since its opening in November of 2013, Oak Barrel Tavern had been a regular spot for the writers, ad folks, and designers of the paper, whose offices are just a few doors down. In fact, longtime former staffer Akai Antia-obong bartended there years after nearly a decade as art director for the newspaper. Talented in mixology and the culinary arts, Antia-obong was more comfortable behind the bar then behind the computer.
Not shockingly, West Of also found its current designer, Andrew Sprague, at the Oak Barrel, which was always a warm and welcoming place that was often a salve for the tumultuous world of print media. It was also a place where we could go to celebrate our highs and drown our sorrows. We were not unique in this. Oak Barrel Tavern was special to many in West Ashley.
“Knowing that lots of people made some great friends in there was a highlight,” said Lyons. “We even had a few couples who had their first dates in there and are now married and would come in every year on their anniversary. Even had a marriage proposal in there. Being in Avondale was great too, so glad we found this spot in this neighborhood.”
Beyond the patrons, another highlight for Lyons was getting recognized by Draft magazine as one of the top 100 Beer Bars in the country two years in a row (2014 and 2015). Oak Barrel also served as host to numerous beer dinners, sushi classes, tap takeovers, Charleston Beer Week events, and brewery launch parties.
“The beer industry has changed (since 2013) in that it went from just starting to get popular, with maybe only one or two places exclusively doing craft beer, to blowing up with beer bars all over town, to now it’s just one or two still doing it,” said Lyons. “It didn’t have an impact on our closing, but I could definitely see the wave of craft beer popularity coming and going.”
Throughout it all, Oak Barrel managed to stay relevant, expanding its wine and sake offerings and staying up on the beer trends as styles and tastes shifted. The sushi remained a huge draw for many as Karamsichani grew his Sushi Ninja pop-up into a permanent residency at the bar and even became a partner in the place.
“Working with the same few people every night for years, you become a family. I’ll also miss our regulars. This place became my social life. I really never needed to go out when I could come to work and have some laughs and good beers. I’ll also miss being so close to Gene’s.”
So, what’s next for Lyons and Karamsichani?
“No clue, maybe start an Onlyfans page,” Lyons joked before becoming reflective. “I’m just glad we could create a space that meant so much for some great people. It’s heartwarming to hear from so many people how much they’re going to miss the place and how it became an integral part of their lives. I guess we did something right.”
