One of the Twin City’s small businesses is also a family business. Sisters Anna Windham and Natalie Spinosa are carrying on their father’s vision for Broad Branch Distillery.
All in the family
Their dad, John Fragakis, and his longtime friend Nick Doumas spent years planning the business venture. In 2014, their dream came true and they opened the doors to Broad Branch Distillery in the Twin City. Doumas died in 2016. The following year, Windham and Spinosa got the call to come home to Winston-Salem and help with operations part time.
“If you asked me 10 years ago, I never imagined I would be running a distillery. Anna and I were fortunate to work with our father and understand his vision for Broad Branch. We will work to continue his legacy,” Spinosa said.
When Fragakis’s health forced him to step away a few years ago, his daughters stepped up to lead day-to-day operations full time. Spinosa’s background in sales and marketing + Windham’s previous work in finance were perfectly suited for the job.
They now lead the company’s five full-time and four part-time employees. Windham says they continue to learn something new every day and their father’s influence is visible in everything they do.
“Dad never took the easy route on anything — something we learned growing up. He believed in hard work, honesty, not following trends or cutting corners, which we believe is evident in our spirits,” Windham said.
Tastes worth savoring
Those spirits have earned multiple awards and gotten national recognition. The sisters remain committed to using high-quality goods from local and regional producers. The distillery mashes and ferments its grains and sugars on site to make bourbon, whiskey, and rum.
You can see the process in action during a distillery tour at the facility at 756 N. Trade St. They are held the first Saturday every month at 2 p.m. and cost $15. The adjoining cocktail lounge serves sips Wednesday through Sunday. You can also stop into the tasting room seven days a week to pick up a bottle.
