PRONOUNCED HAY-TIE | A Story of Community, Craft, and Connection

In Old East Durham's evolving landscape, Proximity Brewing-Durham's first Black-owned brewery marks its first revolution around the sun with more than just another anniversary celebration – it's a story of intentional connection, cultural education, and craft beer innovation. Through their upcoming anniversary release, they're also helping educate the community about an important piece of Durham's history: the historic Hayti district.

"We're not just making good beer; we're creating social relevance with these beers," explains founder Mike Potter, discussing the brewery's upcoming anniversary release: a double hazy IPA called "PRONOUNCED HAY-TIE" – a bold evolution of their flagship Hayti Haze that playfully educates patrons about the pronunciation of Durham's historic Hayti district.

The name serves as both homage and education – a reference to the historic Hayti district, which was founded as an independent Black community shortly after the Civil War on the southern edge of Durham. Named after the independent Black nation of Haiti (pronounced hay-tee, which denotes the distinct difference between – Haiti and Hayti), the district became a thriving center of Black business and culture, built on the pillars of education and entrepreneurship. Today, the Hayti Heritage Center, housed in the historic St. Joseph's AME Church, stands as a cultural anchor and living testament to this legacy. As Durham's premier African American cultural and educational venue, the Center continues to preserve and share the district's rich history through arts, education, and community programs. While Hayti and Old East Durham developed as distinct communities within Durham – with Old East Durham growing around the textile mills and remaining relatively intact through urban renewal – both areas represent important chapters in Durham's story.

"Six or more times daily, our bartenders have to explain the pronunciation of Hayti," Potter notes with a smirk, highlighting how the beer's name emerged from authentic community interactions. "It's about creating conversations and connections while honoring the historic neighborhood of Hayti and everything it represents."

This connection to Durham's rich history extends to the team that makes Proximity special, including Rebecca Rodriguez, whose journey to Durham exemplifies the magnetic pull of the Bull City. "Moving to NC was a big step in the right direction for quality of life," shares Rebecca, who joined Proximity's team after an almost serendipitous series of events. "It's funny in life with hard work and good research, great opportunities find their way to me."

As a tattoo artist at The Studio (another Old East Durham small business) by day and part of Proximity's crew by night, Rebecca embodies the creative, multifaceted spirit that makes Old East Durham unique. "Working here, I've seen how I can add to the culture, with creative ideas, customer connection and reliability. It was such a perfect part-time job to find, especially since it was in such 'Close Proximity,'" she adds with a smile.

The anniversary celebration will introduce new elements to the Proximity brand, including fresh merchandise featuring a script-style logo variation that shows a different side of the brewery's identity. "It's about evolution while staying true to who we are," Potter explains, drawing parallels to the evolving nature of Durham itself.

As Proximity looks ahead to their second year, they're expanding their team to match their growing community impact. The brewery is actively seeking bar managers, bartenders, event coordinators, brand ambassadors, and salespeople to join their mission-driven team. "We're looking for people who understand that we're not just serving beer – we're building community," Potter shares.

The story of Proximity's first year is more than beer – it's about creating space where community thrives, where culture is celebrated and shared, and where every pour comes with a lesson in local history. Whether you're a regular or first-time visitor, you'll find yourself part of a larger narrative that's being crafted one pint at a time.

Join Proximity Brewing for their one-year anniversary celebration on Saturday, December 14th. Doors open at 2 PM for the limited release of PRONOUNCED HAY-TIE double hazy IPA, with the anniversary party kicking off at 8 PM. Come for the beer, stay for the community, and be part of the next chapter in Durham's evolving story.