Carolina Brewery has signed its first distribution deal outside of North Carolina.

The Chapel Hill brewery has inked a deal with Pearlstine Distributors to sell its beer in bars, restaurants, grocery stores and other retail outlets in Hilton Head and Charleston, S.C. Pearlstine will initially focus on distributing Sky Blue Golden Ale and Flagship IPA by the keg to bars and restaurants and in six packs of 12-ounce cans to retailers and grocers.

“The food and gourmet culture down here is just top notch,” said Carolina Brewery owner Robert Poitras, who was in Charleston on Thursday. “We thought it was a little bit underserved on the craft beer side but very thirsty for craft beer.”

Over half the craft beer sold in South Carolina is sold in the Charleston market, Poitras said.

Carolina Brewery was founded in 1995. The company, which has about 140 employees, operates a brewery and restaurant on West Franklin Street in Chapel Hill and a brewpub in Pittsboro.

The company has grown methodically, Poitras said, making sure that each distribution deal it signs is a beneficial one.

“We’re still relatively small in the beer world, and picking the wrong distributor can really have a negative impact on you,” he said. “It’s like a courtship.”

The only market in North Carolina where Carolina Brewery beer isn’t available is Asheville. Poitras said the city will likely be the next place it expands into.

“The reason we’re not in Asheville right now is Asheville is very crowded right now,” he said. “There are a lot of craft breweries up there, and a lot of our restaurant friends and hotel friends tell us ‘take your time. Come here when you can be relevant.’ ”

In Clayton, the Village Marketplace & Country Store has opened at 4684 N.C. 42 E. in the Flowers Plantation area. It includes a farmers market, garden center and North Carolina crafts and home decor, baked goods and ice cream. … In Morrisville, Cricket Wireless is celebrating the opening of its new location in Park West Village today from 2 to 3 p.m. with giveaways and food. … In Raleigh, Sola Coffee Cafe has opened in Greystone Village at Sawmill and Lead Mine roads. It holds a grand opening celebration Saturday, starting at 2 p.m., with free samples of coffees, smoothies and doughnuts. … Also on Saturday, the Hibachi China Buffet opens in the former Golden Corral location at 2909 Millbrook Road, just off Millbrook Road and Capital Boulevard in Raleigh. This is the group’s third area buffet location; the others are at 111 Shannon Oaks in Cary and 3720 Mayfair St. in Durham.

Staff writers David Bracken, Amy Rue and Mary Cornatzer

Send retail items to arue@newsobserver.com.