Are Craig Conover and Austen Kroll Still Opening Up Their Charleston Bar Amid Tensions?

Craig Conover and Austen Kroll have been best friends since their early days on Southern Charm. At the time, both were single and causing chaos around Charleston, leaving heartbroken women in their wake. But both men have come a long way since then, allegedly. Craig finally passed the Bar exam and settled with his Sewing Down South company. Austen also forged his own path. He launched Trop Hop and somehow found himself a girlfriend. But the guys have drifted apart as the trailer for Season 10 showed fans, leaving many of us to wonder what is going on with their bar.

Craig Conover and Austen Kroll were excited about their venture

Photo Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo

In January, the guys announced their biggest adventure yet. They shared with fans via Entertainment Tonight that they would be launching a neighborhood tavern called By the Way. After their successful podcast, Pillows and Beer, the Bravolebs felt they could offer their fans more. “Charleston has grown so much in the last few years and brought in a lot of travelers, so we wanted to create a space where locals and travelers could hang out together and enjoy the neighborhood,” Craig shared.

The Sewing Down South founder added, “It’s going to be a really intimate space. We put a lot of thought into the design to try and make it as warm and inviting as possible. We’re leaning into the local, upscale, tavern vibes, so the menu is going to have elevated bar fare and approachable cocktails.” Austen added that the spot will also have live music on occasion. Austen and Craig partnered with Uptown Hospitality Group. The group has added spots like Bodega, Share Room, and Uptown Social to the Charleston food scene. By the Way will be located on Charleston’s King Street, just around the corner from Uptown Social.

Craig Conover and Austen Kroll soft launch BTW

Photo Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo

Southern Charm viewers learned that in July, Austen and Craig hosted a preview night for their new bar. The boys took to Instagram to give a sneak peek of their upcoming food menu. The food looked divine, as the cook will be whipping up items like parmesan and bacon-stuffed Caesar salad, Tarvin shrimp tagliatelle, petite steak frites, and espresso crème brûlée if you have any room left. Not to be left out, the drink menu also looks like it will be a hit. The Bravolebs partnered with William Grant & Sons and will include a Pornstar Martini, Hot Honey Margarite Blood Orange Paper Plabe, and a Gin Elderflower Spritz.

Craig posted numerous photos on his Instagram Story during the event. The Delaware native showed off the tablescapes, which were decorated with warm-colored flowers and orange candles. The interior walls were made with red brick, along with dark wood panels. The glassware had a retro feel and was placed with matte black silverware. With a mix of friends, family, partners, and influencers, the soft launch was given two thumbs up.

By the Way is a go!

Photo Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo

Exciting news dropped this week as Austen and Craig finally announced that By the Way would open by the end of 2024. According to my calculations, the duo has seven weeks and five days to complete their mission. Craigy took to his Instagram for a Q&A segment, during which fans asked about the progress of BTW. As followers were aware, the pair were planning on opening in the summer, but then it was pushed back to this past fall. 

Craig shared, “The goal is December.” The Bravo personality added that he and Austen have “Just been involved with a couple of other projects recently.” The two friends also are investors in a restaurant in New York City called the Carriage House. While talking to Life and Style, Craig shared, “We butt heads a lot. We have to be careful because we’ve got our podcast and we also own Carriage House in NYC. It’s definitely put stress on our relationship — but it also pulls us through a lot of things.”  

TELL US – DO YOU THINK CRAIG AND AUSTEN WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE PAST THEIR ISSUES? 

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