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RETAIL REVIEW 36 • SHOPPING CENTER BUSINESS •August 2016 I t's no surprise that craft beer — with its emphasis on local, small-scale brew- ing and creative flavor combinations — is growing in popularity with today's experience-driven consumer. In 2015, the craft beer market brought in $22.3 billion, 16 percent of overall beer sales in America, according to the Boulder, Col- orado-based Brewers Association. These numbers are predicted to escalate. For craft brew aficionado Nathan Robinette, the growth in popularity has parlayed into a successful, passion-driv- en business. Robinette created The Ca- sual Pint in 2011, filling the void for a beer-centric marketplace offering fellow craft connoisseurs a one stop shop for Growler fills, make-your-own six packs, a variety of packaged craft brews and a bar with over 20 local beers on tap. "I've always been a craft beer guy," says Robinette. "There are lots of places where you can enjoy craft beer — traditional bars and restaurants, growler shops where you can go and fill a growler and then head home, and of course bottle shops — but I was never able to find a place where you could go and do all of those things. I want- ed to create something that brought all of those components together in a casual, clean and comfortable environment." Robinette opened the doors to the first Casual Pint in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 2011. Today, the company has 12 loca- tions open in Tennessee, Ohio and South Carolina, and is on track to open 35 with- in the next few years. "We are targeting growth in the Southeastern U.S.," says Robinette. "After our new locations open, we will be in Texas, Arizona, Nebraska, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama and Ohio." The Casual Pint's locations range from 2,100 to 2,500 square feet, and employ a comfortable, coffee shop-style design. "We try to blend the coffee shop environ- ment with an British pub feel," says Robi- nette. To achieve this look, each location utilizes a mix of warm colors and stained concrete with dark, oaky wooden shelves and wall trim. The shops also contain a mix of traditional, dark wooden tables and chairs, and seating areas with arm- chairs and coffee tables, further enhanc- ing the blended pub and coffee shop vibe. "It's a multi-use space," says Robinette. "The casual, armchair seating gives cus- tomers a place where they can come in and work on their laptop or read a book. The traditional seating gives customers a space where they can come in and finish their day with a pint or meet with their buddies." The majority of Casual Pint locations are franchised, with only one corporate store open in Knoxville. Franchisees are given the opportunity — after a phased Craft On Tap The Casual Pint combines shopping market with bar, creating the ultimate hub for craft beer connoisseurs. Katie Sloan The Casual Pint works best in shopping centers — preferably on end caps with patio opportunity. The Casual Pint offers a make-your-own six pack section, allowing connoisseurs to sample a variety of brews.