COLUMBIA — The Midlands has multiple dog parks and dog-friendly spaces, but usually businesses have to choose to prioritize the human or the animal. A new Lexington project aims to change that.
Macie and Milo’s Brew Pup will be the first of its kind in the Midlands, combining an off-leash dog park with a sports bar. The new concept plans to serve up a selection of beer and wine as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner at 140 Cromer Road in Lexington starting as soon as March 1.
Bar owner Brian Wiley said he was first introduced to the idea of a dog park bar when his wife Ashley Evens, a local radiologist and the co-owner of Macie and Milo’s, did her fellowship in Jacksonville, Fla. In Florida, they went to a combined bar and dog park almost every weekend — an activity they missed when they returned to Columbia.
“We can always meet up at breweries, which is great,” Wiley said, “but, you know, the dogs are always on the leash sitting underneath the table.”
Wiley decided he and his wife could change that. He left his job as a physical therapist with Prisma in February and said they’ve been on “full blast” with the project (appropriately named after the family’s two dogs) ever since.
The couple started on a business plan about 20 months ago and ended up quickly getting in contact with someone from Cohn Construction, who began work on off of Cromer Road in October.
“It was always a goal of ours to do this, but we didn't know how soon it would happen,” Wiley said.
What is a “brew pup”?
Macie and Milo’s Brew Pup is built around a 1600 square foot building which will house an indoor bar and seating for about 20 people. There will be six to eight TVs inside and multiple TVs outside to ensure there is plenty of space to watch sporting events — a priority for Wiley and Evens, who both played sports in college and want to make sure Macie and Milo’s could be considered a true sports bar.
The main bar will be surrounded by a large turf field in front of the building, perfect for lawn games and extra seating, as well as two gated areas for dogs to play: one for large dogs and one for smaller pups. The larger side will be equip with a two gate system to prevent pets from getting loose, in addition to multiple play areas like a sand pit and a gravel area full of dog toys.
Wiley said there will also be plenty of space for owners to hang out, including three framed pavilions with ceiling fans, heaters and TVs, as well as multiple canvas shades and Adirondack chairs throughout the space.
On the back side of the bar, overlooking the park, there will also be eight workstations where Wiley said visitors can connect to the internet.
“We wanted to create a space that people could come in the mornings, you know, get a craft coffee, bring your dogs, do some work,” Wiley said.
That craft coffee will be served in addition to a full food and drink menu.
The menu
Wiley said he and Evens created their own food truck for Macie and Milo’s inspired by the opportunity to serve a menu featuring healthier options and “real good quality food.”
While the food truck will technically be mobile, the bar owners plan to keep it on site all-day, serving options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Wiley said the truck will serve from a menu formed by a chef from New Hampshire.
“I'm not an avocado toast person. I don't like avocados, I don't like tomatoes, I don't like onions, and I don't like dark wheat bread. But I figured, since he made it, I needed to try it, and it was probably one of the best things that I had eaten,” Wiley said. “Everything that he's cooked has just been off the wall.”
As for the drink menu, Wiley said the plan is to have 12 taps including nine beers, one red wine, a white wine and a prosecco. They will also have a variety of craft canned beers available as well as some higher end wines.
Wiley said customers can also expect food and drink deals throughout the week during one some of the bars events, which will range from weekly trivia and music bingo nights to live music performances and morning events.
“We want to just create a vibe so people can come in, have some relaxing, chill music and bring their dogs and have some mimosas and some breakfast and enjoy time with their family,” Wiley said.
The details
The bar and dog park are free to humans, but require admission for each pet, which Wiley describes as a facility fee that helps to keep the park in good condition and supports safety features like “paw” enforcement officers who will monitor dogs and stop any aggressive behavior.
One-day passes are $15 while memberships are $75 for a monthly pass or $500 for a yearly pass (which both include unlimited visits to the park). Macie and Milo’s will also offer options for visit packs that can be shared among multiple dogs and range from $70 to $250.
Wiley said the goal is to create a space that is safe, welcoming and affordable.
“We tried to think as much as we can to make it affordable — not make it an overwhelming price for people to come,” Wiley said. “I think, for the value, what you get, and what your dogs get to play in, and the facilities that we have that we're definitely on the cheaper end of facility fees.”
But Wiley said safety also comes with some limitations, including requirements for up-to-date vaccines and for dogs to be spayed or neutered if they are over 10 months.
Some rules are also required by insurance, including that more “dominant breeds” that are considered aggressive will be restricted as well as kids under the age of 13. However, for some popular weekends, Wiley said they’ve hired activity directors that will be able to help babysit and engage with younger kids on the front lawn so parents can still come and enjoy the space.
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