By: Tracy Sanders, Publisher
tracy@thewoodrufftimes.com
In a town where community matters and local businesses help shape its identity, Tap Three has carved out a unique space over the past five years, one built on music, connection, and a vision that started with a simple idea.
For owner Ben, the journey to opening Tap Three wasn’t a traditional one. Coming from backgrounds in landscaping and printing, his inspiration stemmed from a lifelong connection to music. As a working musician, he had long envisioned a venue that would make performing easier and more enjoyable for artists. That vision became Tap Three, a place designed not just for customers, but for the performers themselves.
That leap into the restaurant and entertainment industry was, by his own admission, driven by instinct. Rather than overanalyzing, he chose action, believing that the only true failure is never trying at all. That mindset has carried Tap Three from concept to cornerstone of downtown Woodruff.
The name itself came together just as organically. Originally planned with only three draft taps, the business needed a name for licensing paperwork. “Tap Three” was written down on the spot and even after expanding to six taps, the name stuck.
Inside, Tap Three tells a story beyond food and drinks. The walls are lined with memorabilia celebrating Woodruff natives who have made their mark in music and sports. From artists like Nikki Lane to athletes and other notable figures, the décor reflects a great pride in local roots and accomplishments.
Over time, that sense of pride has expanded into something larger, a gathering place for the community. One of the most notable additions has been the Tap Three extension, a performance space intentionally designed to focus entirely on the music. Without televisions or distractions, the room centers attention on the stage, creating an experience that draws visitors not just from Woodruff, but from surrounding areas as well.
Tap 3 Owner Ben Harrison: Q&A Interview
What inspired you to move from your landscape and printing businesses to opening Tap 3?
As a working musician most of my life I had always dreamed of owning a small stage venue. I wanted to create a space that took as the hassle out of setup for the musician to make a more desirable work environment.
What did that leap look like?
My best trait and worst is probably impulsive action when it comes to trying a new venture. Talk is cheap – so I typically don’t talk an idea to death… i just jump in and make it happen. The only failure to me is having an idea and never trying it. So the leap was just one of many with the thought process of its worth a try and if it doesn’t work just move on to another venture. Fortunately things have gone as planned so far.
How did you come up with the name “Tap 3”? Does it hold a special meaning?
As I finished the building I needed to apply for an ABL license and had to have a name for the paperwork. The original plan had only three taps for draft options so I just wrote Tap Three on the fly just to have a business name. No special meaning. We ended up with six taps at the end of the build instead of three but the name was already setup so I left it Tap Three.
The décor is filled with Woodruff memorabilia. How did you curate that and why was it important to highlight local history?
As a born and raised woodruff native I have always had a heart for local history. We also have quite a few Woodruffians who have done some big things in the music and sports world over the years. Nikki Lane, Tony Rice, Derek Jones, Tory Dandy, Jeff Holland, Graham Lawson, Zach Mitchell are just a few locals we have on display because we are very proud of their accomplishments and feel they are worthy of display.
When you expanded into the Tap 3 extension with live performances, what was your vision for bringing that to Woodruff? How has the community responded?
I wanted to create a room with no distractions. No TV with a game on – No distracting bar seat chatter ect…i wanted a room that showcased and directed all attention to the stage only during a performance or event. Woodruff is not a music town…people from out of town often comment how the place would be full 7 nights a week in a more populated area like Columbia or Charleston. While our primary focus is the woodruff community we love to see unfamiliar faces drive from miles away to see a group they may follow. The goal is to create an experience worth driving back for.
With performers like Nikki Lane and a special visit from Lana Del Rey, how did those opportunities come about, and what did it mean for Tap 3?
Nikki Lane has been a great friend since we were young. What was crazy was to see her quick ascent to the top of the music world, as she did not play or sing when she left upstate SC for California after high school. We love her music and have followed her decorated career from the beginning. It is through her that most of the tap 3 celebrity appearances originate. When she comes to town, she rolls with some interesting folks we like to call Wikipedia people, because they all have unique stories you can dial up. Lana Del Ray stayed with us for a week. She ate in Tap 3 every day and loved the small-town vibe and feel. When these people come in, they long to be able to go unnoticed and treated normally. So we always respect this and never make a big deal surrounding their presence.
How did the collaboration with Friends Café start, and what makes having breakfast in Tap 3 a unique experience?
A year before friends closed I dropped the idea of them coming on board at Tap 3. Soon after they officially shut the doors i had a plan and was ready for them. Cola and Tasha serve the best breakfast around and are a pleasure to have on the Tap 3 team.
I’ve noticed construction next door—are there future plans for another expansion? What’s your vision for the next step?
I am currently renovating the old movie theatre building in hopes of extending to a higher level of food and higher level of entertainment. The room will host a bigger production style stage and with industry connections we want to be able to accommodate regional and national touring artist as they pass thru our area. The kitchen will be expanded by 4x the size of the current kitchen allowing us to raise the bar in regards to food quality and options. Unless I hit the lottery soon this project may take some time to complete. It is very expensive but we are chipping away at it one small step at a time.
Finally, your staff plays a big role—what would you like the community to know about the team behind Tap 3’s success
The T3 staff is the reason for its success. Anyone that knows me knows i can’t even cook a hot dog. Food was never a passion but forming a team that knows what they are doing was the plan. I couldn’t be more thankful for the wonderful staff that makes Tap 3 go round each and every day.
What was the biggest risk you took when opening Tap 3, and did it turn out how you expected?
The risk was knowing if it would last considering the large amount of money it cost to create. I knew that based on location i could always rent the space if my plan didn’t work out.
What were those first few months like when you opened—anything people wouldn’t expect?
My friend David Black who owned and operated several restaurants taught me so many things in the first few months. After the first week I gave him a long list of things I didn’t like about week one…he quickly told me to pump the brakes…he being more patient than myself said don’t micro manage every little detail because you will resent this place quickly. I was told by many other owners to expect to lose money for two years before seeing a profit. This was true for the first year and was the hardest thing I have ever experienced in business… working constantly and paying out of pocket to keep it open was hard but by year two things turned profitable which was ahead of schedule of most startup restaurants.
How do you think Tap 3 has contributed to downtown Woodruff over the past five years?
The goal from day one was never to make a bunch of money on the deal…sure I want a return but mainly i wanted to create a space in the Woodruff community with a family friendly vibe that does not cater to any specific group of people.
What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced, especially in the early years or during growth?
I learned early on not to freak out in the slow times. Time of year directly effects sales. I am constantly looking at what is working and what isn’t working so we can adjust to try to keep people coming. Complacency kills in any business…”build it and they will come” is a bad mentality. You have to continue to find ways to better the experience for customers and employees.
What do you hope people feel when they walk into Tap 3?
The idea is to create a space the young hipsters can come as well as the old heads. Many times you will see three generations of the same family together in the same room on a Friday night…this was the goal and makes us proud that we have created a safe family friendly environment.
Have you seen a sense of community or regular crowd develop here? Any stories that stand out?
We have a strong core of regulars that visit almost daily. We also host alot of groups such as the class of 1966 who makes it usually a once every couple of weeks. The extension is often used for reunions, baby showers, live podcasts, seminars and other events that have become annual events each year.
What advice would you give someone in a small town thinking about opening a business?
First would be don’t create a business people won’t use. People often think that if they build it people with patronize. You have to not only provide a great product or service but you also have to ensure people know about you…so my advice is do your homework about Woodruff. It is different than a big city so learning the people and what they will support is an important first step.
As you approach six years, what are you most proud of?
I am most proud that we have been profitable enough to stay open as well as the fact that most employees are the same ones we started with. Seeing sleepy woodruff so alive and playing a role in that is what makes us most proud. This is a combined effort from all local business owners who have weathered the storm and not thrown in the towel. Woodruff City is a special community that we hope to serve for many years to come
