There’s something powerful about standing on a patch of grass and just knowing.
Before the steel beams rose.
Before the rooftop fire pits flickered to life.
Before the first pint was poured.
When the founders of StillFire first stepped onto the lawn that would become its Smyrna home, they weren’t studying blueprints — they were imagining possibility. They saw neighbors gathering. Dogs on leashes. Kids laughing. They saw what every thriving downtown hopes for but can’t manufacture on its own:
Connection.
For founders Randall and Angela Veugeler, Aaron Bisges, and Phil Farrell, the visit wasn’t about square footage. It was about whether this city shared their passion for community and gathering.
“Smyrna is the perfect community that blends family, neighbors, and friends in a beautiful walkable downtown area,” they share. “The passion the City shows for gathering and events makes Smyrna a natural fit for what we are best at — bringing people together.”
And so they invested.
Not cautiously.
Not halfway.
They planted roots.
A Shared Vision — and a Local Commitment
StillFire Brewing was built by founders with complementary strengths. Since opening in 2019, Randall and Angela shaped the brand’s culture and community heartbeat. Phil, an award-winning Brewmaster, helped establish its reputation for world-class craft beer — earning more than 80 professional awards, including honors from the World Beer Cup and Great American Beer Festival. And Aaron, partner and COO, identified the Smyrna opportunity and began the conversations that brought this location to life.
With deep Cobb County roots and a personal commitment to the area, Aaron saw not just a viable location, but a community ready for what StillFire does best — bringing people together. Now serving as the daily local presence of the brewery, his investment here is both professional and personal.
Together, the four founders built the company on a simple belief: exceptional beer may draw people in — but community is what keeps them coming back.
The Third Place
There’s a concept sociologists call “the third place.” It’s not your house. It’s not your office. It’s the in-between space where life unfolds.
StillFire was designed to be that place.
“We see it as a third place for everyone in Smyrna,” they explain. “A place to gather with friends, family, neighbors, and your furry friends.”
As parents themselves, Randall, Angela, Aaron, and Phil understand something many businesses overlook: families want somewhere they can linger — a place toddlers and teenagers are equally welcome, where dogs curl up beneath patio tables and grandparents feel at ease.
It’s surprisingly rare to find a space that does all of that well.
StillFire intends to.
The new Smyrna location reflects that vision — with a spacious taproom, outdoor patios, and a rooftop gathering space designed for long conversations and sunset views. Guests can pair a rotating lineup of craft beers with authentic Mexican fare from Beto’s Tacos next door, or opt for handcrafted cocktails, wine, non-alcoholic options, house-made craft root beer, and locally roasted coffee through a partnership with Smyrna favorite Rev Coffee Roasters.
On a warm spring evening, you can almost picture it now — kids darting across the green space while parents settle into patio chairs. A golden retriever stretched lazily at its owner’s feet. Laughter rising above the hum of conversation. Someone celebrating a promotion. Someone else reconnecting after a long week.
Music drifts down from the rooftop as the sun dips behind the trees, and for a few unhurried hours, neighbors become friends.
This is the kind of investment that doesn’t show up on a balance sheet — but changes a neighborhood all the same.
A Big Investment — With Bigger Belief
Opening a 25,000-square-foot space isn’t a short-term play — it’s a long-term commitment.
“When we first stepped onto the lawn, we knew it had to be here,” the founders recall. Conversations with city leaders revealed a shared vision — a downtown that continues to grow thoughtfully, collaboratively, and vibrantly.
The proximity to greenspace, thriving local businesses, and neighborhoods that love to gather only reinforced their belief. Smyrna isn’t just growing — it’s becoming.
To date, StillFire has hired more than 65 employees for the Smyrna location, many of them locals.
“You can’t call yourself a neighborhood establishment if you aren’t bringing locals in to serve their community,” they say. “Our employees are the backbone of the business.”
Investment isn’t measured only in dollars — sometimes it’s measured in opportunity.
Beer Is Secondary
Yes, the beer is award-winning. And with Phil’s brewing expertise guiding the craft program, that reputation continues to grow.
Ask the founders what they hope people feel when they walk through the doors, and the answer isn’t about hops or fermentation.
“Our loyalty to the community and attention to quality are essential.”
And for those who have never stepped into a craft brewery before?
“Give it a try. We’re not just a watering hole — we’re an event space, a third place, and a community place. The beer is secondary to the experience we try to provide.”
That philosophy shows up everywhere — from rooftop gatherings to local collaborations. A rising tide lifts all ships.
Through the Find Your Fire Foundation, StillFire continues investing in hyper-local initiatives that uplift neighbors and strengthen community bonds — because gathering spaces can also be giving spaces.
Built for Generations
When asked what long-term success looks like, the founders don’t talk about spreadsheets.
“Our goal is to be a mainstay in Smyrna for decades. We have planted roots here and intend to see the continued rise of Smyrna through. Success means having our patrons and community call us their home for generations to come.”
That’s hometown talk.
When asked to finish the sentence, “StillFire is investing in Smyrna because…” their answer was simple:
“Because it shares our passion for community and gathering. Because we are only as good as the people we are surrounded by — and in Smyrna, the sky is the limit.”
StillFire didn’t just build a brewery.
They built a place to belong.
Smyrna, it’s time to find your fire.
StillFire Brewing – Smyrna
2725 King St. SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
stillfirebrewing.com
Instagram: @stillfirebrewingsmyrna
Facebook: StillFire Brewing
Pull Quote 1: “Exceptional beer may draw people in — but community is what keeps them coming back.”
Pull Quote 2: “Smyrna shares our passion for community and gathering — and here, the sky is the limit.”