A few years ago, it seemed that the oldest commercial building in Georgia would be another case of demolition by neglect. The Adam Strain Building was built before 1820 and survived The Burning of Darien by federal troops during the Civil War. More recently, it was vacant for many years and had started to deteriorate to the point that the Georgia Trust for Historic Places had listed it as one of the state’s Places in Peril.
In February 2020, it was announced that Marion and Milan Savic of Marietta had purchased the building with the intention of saving it. Working with the teams from Ethos Preservation and Landmark Preservation, the Savics were able to restore it. Marion shared that the preservation teams designed new techniques for the restoration. For instance, an outside wall must be pulled closer to the building. The system was designed specifically for the building’s walls.
In July 2024, it looked like the building would be open for fall as a brewery. My friends and I decided to plan a trip for October to see the restoration and try the brewery. Unfortunately, it was not ready by the time for our trip to the coast. Luckily, mutual friends were able to connect us with Marion Savic who graciously offered to give us a tour.
The two-story building will open as the Tabby House Brewing Company sometime in the fall of 2024, so when my friends and I showed up, they were in the final stages of getting ready to open. The building has two floors with an upper and lower outdoor patio. In view of the river, it will be the place to grab a pint in McIntosh County and surrounding areas.
Outside of being a scenic place to visit, architecture and history nerds will appreciate the details the Savics kept to respect the building’s history and architecture. Patrons will be able to see a close-up of the Tabby. Much of the hardwood was salvaged from the building and reused.