Park Circle Quarterly Magazine

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Pearce Fleming

Food & Beverage

For The Common Good: Crafting Community One Pint at a Time

Nestled in the heart of North Charleston’s Park Circle neighborhood, Commonhouse Aleworks has become more than a local brewery—it’s a beacon of hospitality, creativity, and impact. At the center of it all is Pearce Fleming, a former healthcare executive turned award-winning brewer whose passion for people and place has helped shape one of Charleston’s most beloved gathering spots.

Fleming recently shared the story behind Commonhouse in an interview with Sean Welsh, host of Heart of The Park—a local series that spotlights the people and businesses shaping Park Circle. The show is curated by the Park Circle Branding Agency and was created by its CEO and founder, Okeeba Jubalo, a visionary cultural leader known for building strong ties across the local business community.

The conversation highlighted both Pearce’s personal journey and his deep-rooted pride in the neighborhood, offering a candid glimpse into how a healthcare consultant found his purpose behind a brew kettle.

“It's been almost four years since moving back from Atlanta and we decided to make our home in Park Circle. I was delighted when Mr. Fleming reached out to discuss a potential partnership,” said Okeeba Jubalo. “From the moment we met, his authenticity and straightforward nature put me at ease. Working with him and his team, especially at our recent Spring Forward Fine Art & Vendor’s Fair, has been a fantastic experience, and I'm genuinely excited about our Fall 2025 collaboration for the Global Art Fair."

Okeeba Jubalo & Pearce Fleming at the 2025 Spring Forward Fine Art & Vendor Fair

Pearce Fleming echoed the sentiment: “Working with the Park Circle Quarterly Magazine for their Spring Forward Fine Art & Vendor’s Fair was both an honor and a powerful opportunity to share our story and create an impact with a forward-thinking audience. The magazine team's commitment to spotlighting innovation, resilience, and community aligned perfectly with our mission—and the response from readers has been truly inspiring.”

Born and raised in South Carolina, Fleming’s story is one of reinvention rooted in purpose. After moving to Charleston in 1996 to attend graduate school at the Medical University of South Carolina, he spent the first third of his career in hospital administration and went on to lead one of the nation’s largest healthcare consultancies. Along the way, he also helped develop several quality-of-life tech platforms for patients, providers, insurers, and employers.

Despite the success, Fleming began to feel a disconnect. “I didn’t make anything,” he recalled. “I wanted to know how to make something with my hands.” While traveling for work, he often found himself at local craft breweries—especially in cities like Portland, San Diego, and Seattle—where he discovered not just a love for beer, but for the community it fostered.

Hank Hanna & Pearce Fleming

That appreciation became action. Fleming started homebrewing with a friend and eventually completed the General Certificate in Brewing through the Institute of Brewing & Distilling. As an accomplished and award-winning homebrewer, he began laying the groundwork for what would become Commonhouse Aleworks, alongside his entrepreneurial partner Hank Hanna.

Their vision? A modern-day version of Charleston’s colonial “Common House”—a place that once served as a church, schoolhouse, tavern, and town hall. “We wanted to create a space where people come together to do the hard work of finding what we have in common,” said Fleming. “And hopefully, celebrate that over a pint.”

For Fleming, the choice to open in Park Circle was deeply personal. He lives in the neighborhood, raised his son there, and was drawn to its diverse, bohemian energy. “It felt like the kind of place I grew up in,” he shared. “It was essential that Commonhouse be in and of this neighborhood.”

This sense of place and purpose took on even greater meaning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many small business owners, Fleming was forced to navigate unprecedented uncertainty. “Hope is not a strategy,” he said. “You have to look at the cards you’re dealt and play the best hand possible. We leaned into our team and our community to get through it.”

What emerged was a renewed commitment to community impact. From hosting local nonprofits and community discussions to launching partnerships with local businesses, Commonhouse has become a hub for collaboration and connection. Fleming and his team regularly partner with neighborhood restaurants like Swig & Swine BBQ, and they’ve collaborated with iconic venues like the Pour House and Home Team BBQ on limited-run brews.

Even their beer offerings reflect Fleming’s thoughtful, collaborative approach. From the Park Circle Pale Ale to rotating small-batch creations, the brewery balances dependable core brands with seasonal and experimental flavors. Fleming himself is a self-described “hop head,” with a soft spot for West Coast-style IPAs—especially their “Looking East” double IPA.

True to his roots, Fleming also carries a family legacy of spirited entrepreneurship. His grandfather, a student at North Carolina State University, famously ran moonshine to help cover expenses—once getting caught, only to laugh later that nine out of ten people on the university disciplinary board were regular customers. “You’re going to have to pay the Revenuers their due,” his father joked when told of the plan for Commonhouse.

But while brewing may run in his blood, Fleming’s real mission is connection. “Beer is what we make, but it’s not why we do what we do,” he said. “We exist to create space for people to come together.”

That commitment extends to supporting a wide range of local causes and organizations. Fleming counts Charleston Trident Urban League, Tri It For Life, and Park Circle Cares among his favorite nonprofits. Whether through charitable partnerships, open dialogue, or simply providing a welcoming environment, Commonhouse continues to live up to its name—serving as a common ground for neighbors from all walks of life.

As the craft beverage landscape evolves—with the rise of hemp-derived THC drinks and the “omnichannel drinker”—Fleming and his team remain focused on adapting without losing sight of what matters most.

“We can all get out of bed in the morning excited to be part of something bigger than ourselves,” said Fleming. “That’s the heart of what we’re building here.”