P.J.'s Fast Food Mart (BP)

Store

237 Asheville Hwy
Sylva, North Carolina, 28779-2709
United States

(828) 586-9645 | map
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.07
Reviews:
12
Ratings:
16
pDev:
12.04%
View: Place Reviews
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Ratings by GCBrewingCo:
Photo of GCBrewingCo
Reviewed by GCBrewingCo from North Carolina

3.65/5  rDev -10.3%
PJ's is a place I would not have stopped if it had not been suggested as the best place to purchase beer in Sylva by the owner of the Soul Infusion Tea House and Bistro. It is a BP Station and looks kinda grungy on the outside. It is on Asheville Highway just before it connects to Main Street in Sylva if heading toward Sylva.

The place has much more than meets the eye. Some of the brands represented, Meantime, Terrapin (including Big Hoppy Monster and Wake-n-Bake), Allaghash (last place I found with Interlude), Sweetwater (including Festive Ale 2005), Highland beers in sixers and in 22 ounce, Ommegang was represented as were several Belgians. The selection is not outstanding, but was pretty good.

The quality might be suspect if you go by some of the dust on the bottles, but a few bottles with substantial dust had not been released long so that may not be a great indicator. The prices for many items were less than other places, but a few beers were very much overpriced. Allaghash Interlude is one that was overpriced, $19 a 750 ml.

The service was ok, they didn't know the street address and went outside to look at the number over the door, a little odd, but helpful. Anyway, if in Sylva give it a whirl, I know it will be my regular stop as I come through when I need some beer.
Apr 12, 2006
More User Ratings:
Photo of fehrminator
Reviewed by fehrminator from North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev -4.7%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25
This place can’t compete with craft beer stores in larger cities but for the NC mountains, it’s a hidden gem. Not much of a vibe but the selection is the best in Sylva by far.
Sep 04, 2020
Photo of valrxman
Rated by valrxman from Florida

3.73/5  rDev -8.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.75
I stop here every year. Other people must have found it too because the selection is fresher and fresher. Worth a stop for NC beer. Cheers
Jul 04, 2016
 
Rated: 3.94 by tmm313 from Georgia

Jun 02, 2016
Photo of PEDXING
Reviewed by PEDXING from North Carolina

4.81/5  rDev +18.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
Just echoing what others have already said: it looks like a typical BP gas station from the outside, and even on the inside until you get to the back couple aisles and wall of coolers. Then it's overflowing with boxes of great craft beer from all over the country. Prices on almost everything are significantly lower than what you'll find in Asheville. The owner is extremely friendly and knowledgeable about local beer culture and distribution, and he really enjoys talking about it. I appreciate that he doesn't judge my beer geekness at all--I actually think he digs it, even though he doesn't drink--now that he has a feel for what I usually pick up, he recommends things that are new and similar, or even just beers that he's observed other beer geeks like me buying up. The only ding against it is that the hoppy stuff doesn't always turn over quickly, so be sure to check dates, but it's also easy enough to ask what's come in recently and go from there. It's an awesome store, I really can't recommend it strongly enough.
Dec 20, 2015
Photo of AngusOg
Reviewed by AngusOg from North Carolina

3.44/5  rDev -15.5%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.75
It's a gas station on the outskirts of downtown Sylva, so most if the people were coming in to buy gas, scratch offs, cigs, etc., or if they were there to buy beer most were grabbing BMC. But the selection is pretty good, probably outstanding for the area. There were a few gems, and a couple things I don't normally see in Asheville, and a couple items with some good pricing (example, 27.99 for Cascade Apricot). But beware, since the turn over probably isn't real fast here, there are some very old ipas on shelf. For a second I got real excited cause I thought I found some Double Trouble a couple days old. I looked closer and realized it was from last year. It's a decent store and fine if your in the area, but nothing worth seeking out.
Aug 05, 2015
 
Rated: 4.33 by KingEdward from North Carolina

Jun 30, 2015
 
Rated: 3.81 by RochefortChris from North Carolina

Jan 30, 2015
Photo of deezy23
Reviewed by deezy23 from Georgia

4.29/5  rDev +5.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
Stopped by PJ's to pick up some beer to bring home to GA; what a great find. Plenty of good stuff in the two isles of craftbeer plus a couple of cooler doors worth. Misc selection of NC Beer plus others that we aren't able to find in GA (New Holland/Ballast Point etc)

Owner noticed me and stopped by to offer new stuff that just arrived; I bought a case of great beers and hit the road home.

Found gems from 12oz'ers up to 750's. Definitely stop by this place if your close by or just passing through to get up to Cherokee area!
Aug 10, 2012
Photo of Finatic
Reviewed by Finatic from Florida

4.44/5  rDev +9.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Looks like your normal run of the mill BP Gas station from the outside. Once you walk in you realize that you are in craft beer heaven or as close as you can be for a small town in Western North Carolina.Greg the owner is very affluent in the craft beer scene and will order anything you want and he is beyond helpful. Founders, Bells, Green Flash, Caldera, Ska and many others are here for your liking. They also have a great amount of NC beers and carry a large amount of growlers.

Great place for craft beer and a must stop for me every time I visit my buddy's cabin in Murphy, NC.
Jan 02, 2012
Photo of jimixr
Reviewed by jimixr from Georgia

3.6/5  rDev -11.5%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4
From the outside, this place looks like any other BP gas station that you may encounter. Inside though it is quite a surprise for the type of store it is and the area it is in.There is a lot of craft beer here. A few bigger US micros and lots of regional beers. I have found some great beer here. They even have some of the more limited releases that reach the area. The service is good for a gas station, but the staff is fairly limited in their beer knowledge. They will try to help though, so there is somthing to be said for that. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area.
May 05, 2011
Photo of BirdsandHops
Reviewed by BirdsandHops from Oregon

4.05/5  rDev -0.5%
This place looks like a completely hole-in-the-wall, but inside is an awesome selection. You'll have to pass the carpet cleaner, dog food, and BMC, but it's honestly the best selection outside of Asheville.

The focus is mostly on American craft breweries with only a few European beers. Sam Smith's Weihenstephaner, Chimay, and little more. When it comes to American craft, though, they have a huge selection. Bell's, Founders, Great Divide, Stone, Sierra Nevada, Ommegang, Unibroue, Ballast Point, Stoudt's, Victory, Dogfish Head, and so on. There's a pretty good showing for local and state brews as well with Asheville Brewing, Highland, Duck-Rabbit, French Broad, Mother Earth, Thomas Creek, Sweetwater, Terrapin, etc. They don't always get the ultra rares in, but even sought after seasonals like Hopslam and KBS show up. You do have to be a bit cautious with hoppy beers since some of the stuff can sit on the shelf for a while. The upside to that is I've found two-year-old Old Stock Ale sitting on a dusty shelf.

Prices are also very good--usually the best you will find in the in the region. Hopslam was $16.99 per sixer and $38 per minikeg there compared to $20 and $45 respectively in Asheville. KBS is $18 as opposed to $23 per 4-pack.

Service depends pretty much entirely on who's there. It is a gas station, so many of the staff are not into beer. If you show up while Greg's, there, though, he'll gladly discuss what's new and what's coming.

All-in-all, I love this place, especially living just 10 minutes away. They don't get the rarest of beers, but they get enough of the big releases and it's a small enough town that you don't have to fight for beers like you would in Asheville.
Feb 01, 2011
Photo of Hammerknocker
Reviewed by Hammerknocker from North Carolina

4.65/5  rDev +14.3%
P.J.'s Fast Food Mart (BP) is an unexpected hidden treasure in Sylva, a small rural town in western North Carolina. It looks like every other little "quick stop" gas station in Everytown, USA. Stroll to the back of the store toward the beer cooler. All the regular domestic beers are the first to greet you. Move down the cooler and magically the beer selection changes from ho-hum to WOW! Get ready to see: Ommegang, Moylans, Allagash, Lagunitas, Founders, Unibroue, Stone, Great Divide, Oskar Blues, Ballast Point, Bear Republic, Bells, Green Flash, North Coast, Smuttynose and Victory to name just a few of my favorites. Greg, the owner will try to get just about anything you request.
Check the store weekly for new selections and seasonals. Most all of the major micro breweries in the Southeast are here. Enjoy!
Aug 14, 2010
Photo of Bartrob6
Reviewed by Bartrob6 from North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%
Best selection of beer in the area. Awesome prices on everything. They have everything from Macros to some pretty rare stuff sometimes. Good selection of 22oz bombers and 6 packs also. I don't know his name, but the guy that handles all the beer is friendly and will make good recommendations on beers. When new stuff comes out he always does his best to get it. Always rotatating beers that are available except the good sellers. If you're passing through and want some good beer this is the place to get it. Oh yeah, its a BP.
Apr 17, 2009
Photo of scaping28
Reviewed by scaping28 from New Jersey

4.85/5  rDev +19.2%
I pulled in to fuel my car but got a surprise once inside. Being from New Jersey I don't ever see a selection the likes of this. The entire back wall is coolers just like any other gas station/fast food mart. After a quick look around you realize what it is all about...Beer...great beer. Greg, the Beer Man, has gone to great lengths to supply a fine variety of brews from accross the US and beyond. Six packs and bombers of craft brewed beers fill half the store. Plan to spend some time to explore. Talk to Greg. He scored 5 cases of the coveted Bell's Hopslam by my request. He will order it if you come. When you get to Sylva, ask anyone where to get the best beer. You'll end up at PJ's.
Feb 12, 2008
Photo of Enola
Reviewed by Enola from North Carolina

3.15/5  rDev -22.6%
We stopped in here on our way to ride the scenic train in Dillsboro. I did not expect much because it does not look like a very refined store on the outside. As you walk in the coolers are in the back. Most of the craft beer that is in sixers is in these coolers. Most Bombers and 750's are on the shelves in front of the coolers. They had a pretty good selection. They still had a good bit if Terrapin Imperial Pilsner. I asked the girl behind the counter about a beer and she replies that she only drank Michelob Ultra Amber and that she left the micro's alone. They are evidently too "freaky". Oh well, more for me. This is the best place I have found in Sylva so far to buy beer. I would stop in here again. I ended up buying a can of Jittery Joe's Wake-N-Bake coffee blend.
Jul 23, 2006
P.J.'s Fast Food Mart (BP) in Sylva, NC
Place rating: 4.07 out of 5 with 16 ratings