Just a few blocks down Main Street in Festus sits the next chapter in the evolution of Denny Foster and Main and Mill Brewing Company (240 E. Main St., Festus). Central Tap (10 E. Main St.) is now open, but it’s not just another brewery restaurant. It’s an easygoing hangout, a place to grab a drink, play pinball, catch live music, or simply stay awhile. Foster calls it a social hub for anyone looking for a welcoming space outside of home, whether or not they drink alcohol.
“Where Main and Mill is family-driven and a little more buttoned up, Central Tap is loose by design,” Foster says. “Joy is the goal. If it’s not fun, we leave it out.”
He imagines people moving between the spaces: dinner at Main and Mill, a drink at Central Tap, maybe a show at The Contrarian down the street. “It’s all part of the same night,” he says. “Festus finally has that kind of flow.”
The concept
Central Tap mixes modern finishes with throwback character. The floors are slate, the counters concrete, and the ceilings dark and arched, but the feeling is anything but serious. Old wrestling matches play on the TVs, a wall of VHS tapes backs the bar, and artist Kinsey Wolk filled the space with bright color and pop culture touches.
“All the tables come from reclaimed lanes out of Foster’s Bowl, once owned by Barry Foster’s uncle,” says Caleb Davis, Main and Mill’s director of packaging. “It’s our way of keeping that family story alive in something tangible.”
That blend of nostalgia and humor runs through every detail. “We take the liquids seriously, beer, slushies, coffee, but not ourselves,” Davis says.
A new stage and event deck add more ways to use the space. The stage is ready for comedy, music, or spoken word, and the deck doubles as a quiet place to work by day and a party spot by night. “It’s perfect for showers, birthdays, reunions, or just a sunny afternoon hangout,” Foster says. The open floor plan makes it easy to move between the bar and patio, with plenty of TVs for watching games or movies.
“We designed it so there’s no rush,” Foster adds. “No servers weaving through tables, just a space that encourages people to relax, mingle, and stick around awhile.”
The team
Foster credits his crew for shaping the new space. Davis keeps the branding and design tied to Main and Mill, while head brewer Brandon Bischoff sees Central Tap as a chance to play.
“Central Tap gives us room to experiment,” Bischoff says. “Small batches, new ingredients, off-the-wall ideas, the kind of stuff that keeps us excited and our regulars guessing.”
The drinks
The tap list reads like a Main and Mill highlight reel with a few surprises mixed in: lagers, IPAs, fruited sours, hard seltzers, kombucha, and cold brew coffee. But the attention-getter might be the eight rotating slushies, half alcoholic and half not. They’re not a gimmick, Foster says, but a reflection of what the place wants to be.
“One, symmetry,” he says with a laugh. “But really, it’s important to us that we have beverage options for everyone, both drinkers and non-drinkers. It gives us another realm to experiment in and will be huge for the hotter months and street festivals.”
“We wanted a lineup that feels alive,” he adds. “You can find your favorite beer or stumble into something weird and love it.”
The grub
A small sandwich shop next door will open later this year, serving directly into Central Tap. Guests can grab a drink and have their meal brought right over, no reservations, no fuss.
The menu will focus on simple, classic sandwiches done right. Think sharp cheddar, roasted turkey, fresh vegetables, and good bread, the kind of food that fits naturally with a pint or a slushy. “We wanted something quick and actually craveable,” Foster says. “It’s not bar food. It’s food that fits the way people hang out here.”
The backstory
Central Tap fills a renovated building, part of a long-term plan to bring more life to downtown Festus. The idea started in 2019 and evolved through the pandemic, when Foster began rethinking how people want to spend time together.
“This is about layering experiences,” he says. “Main and Mill is where you eat. Central Tap is where you linger.”
What’s next
Central Tap is officially open, with current hours Wednesday through Friday from 4 to 10 p.m., Saturday from noon to midnight, and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m. The team is exploring earlier weekday hours and hopes to create a casual coworking vibe during the day once food service begins.
Next up is the sandwich shop, followed by Six Main, a cocktail lounge that will bring a low-lit space for nightcaps and conversation. Together, the three projects will link Main Street from brewery to bar to lounge.
“Festus has given us a lot,” Foster says. “Now we’re giving people more reasons to hang out a little longer.”
