Interview by Abernathy Cochran intern and Gainesville High senior Grady Vardeman

Meet Nick and Aimee Hoecker! Nick and Aimee are the owners of Downtown Drafts on the Gainesville square and just celebrated their fifth year in business. Downtown Drafts is a growler bar with 24 beers on tap along with wine and craft beer sales. Nick and Aimee are downtown Gainesville fanatics and help promote, what they call, Square Life, downtown business and even co-sponsored a concert series over the summer downtown.
Aimee said her favorite part about Hall County is the friendliness of the people.
“The friendliness of the people I’ve noticed has been really unique, coming from Gwinnett this is a totally different atmosphere,” she said.
Downtown Gainesville and Downtown Drafts enthusiast Teo Barth said he is thankful Nick and Aimee for opening their doors five years ago.
“Craft beer is not exclusive. Everyone and anyone can love and appreciate craft beer and share their knowledge about it. What Nick and Aimee Hoecker have created goes way beyond beer. They have created a place that brings people together-from every walk of life. They embrace diversity, raise money for charities, host many ‘themed’ events during the week (such as trivia), sponsor adult themed get together events (adult prom and adult Halloween),” he said. “Nick and Aimee started Downtown Drafts five years ago, in turn creating a village,  if you will. In this village we’ve all built great friendships in our lives with really good people!”
Nick and Aimee live in Flowery Branch and the couple has two children: Hudson and Ivy.
We want to thank Nick and Aimee for taking time to tell us more about their life and love of Hall County.

Question: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
Answer: Aimee: “Nick had been a bartender for about a decade or so and we were looking for something he could do where he could be with the kids at night, instead of working super late.”
Nick: “If we’re being 100% honest, we got tired of working for other people and thought we were ready to take that leap of faith.”

Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County? And what do you love there?
A: (A) “I would put Recess and Atlas on that list and I just love the people and the appetizers at Recess. Oh, I almost forgot Hopscotch they are brand new and everything I’ve had there is amazing.”
(N) – “I would agree with Aimee and especially with Atlas because of the unreal amount of bacon they put on their pizza and that’s fantastic.”

Q: How long have you lived or worked in Hall County?
A: (A) “We’ve been open for just over five years and living in Hall County for a little over six years.”

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now where would it be? And why?
A: (A) “One of the big things we do together is that we go to a lot of concerts together. So, to go see as many festivals as we can do together would be great. We’re looking forward to going to Psycho Fest in Las Vegas in August.”
(N) “We only travel for music or just for the kids so I’d have to say the same thing as Aimee on this one.”

Q: What is your favorite movie or the first movie you remember seeing in the theater?
A: (A) “I love the movie ‘Airplane,’ I really like to laugh and this movie never fails to make me laugh.”
(N) “’The Great Outdoors.’”

Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: (A) “Love one another.”
(N) “Be sure the patio is clean. We really think presentation is a big deal so that’s something small we can work on. The little things matter.”

Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: (A) “To have a cabin in the mountains is definitely up there for me and I know Nick feels the same way.”

Q: What are your favorite music and three bands you’d like to see dead or alive?
A: (N) “My favorite bands would have to be; Leatherface, Graveyard, and Avail. We’re lucky to say we’ve seen all of these in concert.”
A: (A) “My favorite type of music is punk rock and I really can’t think of anyone else I want to see now, after seeing Avail last summer I’d say I’m pretty happy.”

Q: Choosing anyone alive and a non-relative with whom would you like to have lunch with? And where?
A: (N) – “I would take my buddy AJ to the Inked Pig.”

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about Hall County?
A: (A) “The friendliness of the people I’ve noticed has been really unique, coming from Gwinnett this is a totally different atmosphere.”
A: (N) “The feeling of knowing about everyone here is pretty special.”

Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: (N) “Some people may find it interesting that I own bar and don’t drink alcohol. I had to lose some weight and it really helped, I also do jiu jitsu.”

Q: What three words or phrases that come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: (A) “Comfort, Family, and peace.”