Coastal Business Serves Brew, Food and Hardware

An Idea That Made Sense

Cannon Beach Hardware & Public House, which has also been referred to as the Screw & Brew since it opened in 2010, has become a staple for locals and returning tourists, says owner Ryan Hayes Dewey. However, the concept for the business had been years in the making.

Dewey’s father traveled internationally in his career often, but one visit to Dingle, Ireland, in 1972 paved the way for the business his son would one day open. 

“My dad was looking for something for lunch in Dingle and was told to go to the pub in town,” Dewey says. “He walked into the hardware store called Foxy Johns asking where the pub was and they told him he was in it. He always said how cool of a concept it was.” 

When Dewey and his wife decided to leave the city in Portland and move back to her hometown of Cannon Beach, the idea to open a hardware store with a bar in it went from a dream to reality. Dewey had experience in the construction business and also owned two pubs in Portland with his brothers, so taking his experience in both industries and combining them made sense. 

“I was nervous about opening a hardware store in town since the local population is about 1,700 people,” Dewey says. “The previous hardware stores went out of business, but my dad encouraged me to take the risk by adding the bar and he believed in it so much he said he’d support me.” 

What started as a hardware store with three taps eventually expanded and now the business features a full pub menu with local beers, a full bar and delicious food. The most popular items on the menu are the fish and chips and the pastrami.

When you walk into the business, you are immediately greeted by a bar to your right and tables throughout the area, often right next to the nuts, bolts, batteries and beach toys. Throughout the downstairs are unique items like old airplane seats and antique tools lining the walls. The upstairs takes shoppers to additional shelves of products one might need in a beach town, like cleaning products, insect sprays and housewares items like shower curtains and oven mitts. 

“Our store relieves those in town of having to drive what can take nearly 45 minutes to get to the next closest hardware shop,” Dewey says. “It’s really a convenient option for people.” 

In addition to hardware and food, visitors love picking out merch to take home, whether it’s a t-shirt, hat or hoodie. 

Finding the Right People

Dewey believes that Cannon Beach Hardware & Public House has been able to remain a popular destination because of its unique hardware and bar combination, but he also credits his team to their longtime success. 

While he knew his experience in the construction business would help on the hardware side, he brought on general manager Brooke Lynn Neuwirth to run the restaurant side of the operation. They have about 21 people on staff, and often bring a few more people on board to help during the busy tourist season. 

“I am really fortunate to have such great people that work here,” Dewey says. “We have many long term employees. Not only do they know what to suggest for lunch or which drink to try, but they also can help answer any question one might have in the hardware side of the business.” 

The team at Cannon Beach Hardware & Public House is very close knit. Every year, Dewey says he hosts a Christmas party for the team and they do an ornament making competition, with the top three ornaments winning a prize. 

In 2018, Neuwirth invested in the building next door, which is called the Hemlocker, an adults only 21 years and older bar and lounge, which acts as an extension to the main area of the store. The Hemlocker space can also be rented out for events. 

“There is a Fourth of July parade in town that always ends here,” Dewey says. “It’s cool having a place that people enjoy visiting and having a good time with family and friends at.”