The new owner of a key spot along Lexington’s Main Street has spoken out as to why he is helping bring a national franchise to the bustling downtown.

Dawu Bowman, owner and operator, will be bringing the Voodoo Brewing Company franchise to the midlands. It’s going into the 8,720-square-foot space that was once slated for a scrapped beer garden.

The Lexington location will be the third in the state. The other locations are in the upstate in Fountain Inn and near Myrtle Beach in Murrells Inlet.

Bowman told The Chronicle that last year, he began looking into becoming an entrepreneur, adding that when looking at franchises, Voodoo Brewing stood out.

“The reason why it stuck out to me was the culture and the climate of the organization. It’s like an anti-corporate establishment, sort of come as you are, you know. Inclusiveness,” he said.

The Voodoo location will not be brewing its own beer and will be selling the product coming out of the headquarters in Meadville, Pennsylvania.

“We're mostly going to focus on providing quality service, elevating pub-style food and great quality craft beer,” Bowman said.

The location will stay true to the Voodoo brand, though it will put a focus on being intertwined into the local community.     This will include using locally sourced ingredients and decor to make it community-centered.

Voodoo’s outposts typically feature bar food like pub pretzels, gouda steak fries, smoked wings, pizzas, burgers and more, alongside the brand’s signature brews.

While the space has been leased and the process has begun, Bowman said no timelines have been established, though the hope is to open later this year.

When it comes to why he chose Lexington, Bowman spoke on the initiative to grow the community and the amount of things to do downtown.

The franchise will be one of three tenants at the 102 W. Main St. property, with each occupying one of the site’s three buildings, joining the already announced wine bar, Molto Vino, which will open its second location after its first in Forest Acres. There’s also TakoSushi, which will add a second Midlands location in addition to the one it already has on Columbia’s Main Street.

Bowman said that he loves to be amongst other businesses and that it will bring a complex and desired variety to the downtown that will complement each other.

Announced in 2021, the Navy Yard on Main beer garden was initially slated to occupy the entirety of the corner lot. Though the business defeated a legal challenge to its beer and wine license by the neighboring St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, the beer garden was ultimately abandoned in 2022.

According to the franchise owner, he has reached out to the pastor of the church and is on good terms, adding that they will continue to communicate throughout the process.

The church did not respond to The Chronicle's request for comment about its new neighbor.

“We are extremely excited to be partnering with Voodoo Brewing Company and bringing this product to Lexington, South Carolina,” Bowman said. “The midlands is just a great area to live, to raise your family, to open a business.”