Sometimes the most interesting stories about our colleagues happen after they leave the office. By day, Warren Savage helps Lawyers Mutual insureds navigate some of the most challenging moments of their professional lives. After hours, you’ll often find him just a short walk from home at House Creek Beverage Co., a neighborhood bottle shop he co-owns with friends. While the settings couldn’t be more different, Warren’s approach is remarkably consistent: bringing people together, building relationships, and creating a sense of community wherever he is.

Warren’s Role at Lawyers Mutual

LM: How long have you been with Lawyers Mutual, and what originally drew you to working as a claims attorney?

WS: I started with Lawyers Mutual in 2005 when I came to the gradual realization in private practice that I despised the billable hour. I had been fortunate in my old firm to do Lawyers Mutual defense and claims repair work, so I knew what a great company it was and how wonderfully it treated its insureds.

LM: What do you enjoy most about working with lawyers across North Carolina as a claims attorney?

WS: I love that when our insureds feel uncertain or vulnerable in their professional lives, they know they can call me confidentially for comfort, advice, guidance, and a defense, when necessary. I can’t count the number of true friends I have made all over the state through my work as claims counsel at Lawyers Mutual. It’s incredibly gratifying work.

LM: What’s one thing about being a claims attorney that people outside the profession might not fully understand?

WS: Lawyers Mutual claims attorneys don’t just adjust claims. I spend a great deal of time talking to insureds about life, career, and interpersonal relationships rather than just risk management or ethics advice. A call may start with a question from a lawyer about how to respond to a particular motion, and end with a discussion about the lawyer’s mounting frustrations with practicing solo. A lawyer’s concern about an imminent discovery deadline leads to an outpouring of anxieties about the pressures of family life. A lawyer’s report of a potential legal malpractice claim may culminate in a long conversation about mental health or medical struggles that are impacting the lawyer’s life and practice. I like this part of my job more than anything else.

The Story Behind House Creek Beverage Co.

LM: Outside of your role at Lawyers Mutual, you’re involved with House Creek Beverage Co. Can you tell us how that opportunity came about?

WS: Covid was tough on a lot of small retail businesses in 2020. By 2022, the previous owners of the shop told our neighbors Wendy and Eric Midkiff that they were planning to get out of the business and were interested in selling the place if they could find a buyer, or closing it down, if they could not. Wendy talked to my wife Elizabeth, and Elizabeth impressed upon me the great opportunity this provided for us to secure the future of the bottle shop and to provide me with a hobby. So in December 2022, we joined forces with the Midkiffs and took the leap into small business ownership. Our first act was to change the name to House Creek Beverage Co. after the small creek that runs through our Meredith Woods neighborhood.

LM: For those who haven’t been there yet, how would you describe the vibe and experience at House Creek Beverage Co.?

WS: The vibe is pretty chill. (We close each night at 9 so that I can get my beauty sleep!) We are determined to keep House Creek a comfortable place where regulars and neighbors of different backgrounds and perspectives can mingle in a location that is fun and unpretentious. For the regulars at House Creek, many call it “my living room.” It is for them, and us, a “third place,” outside of home and work, to find community and belonging.

LM: What role do you personally play in the business?

WS: I am the utility fielder and designated hitter of the ownership group.

LM: The shop is within walking distance of your home. Has that changed how you connect with your neighborhood or community?

WS: It’s hard to describe my feelings of joy, camaraderie, and community that come with the gradual accumulation of small regular social interactions with lots of people I like, trust, and who make me laugh. Friday nights at House Creek are like a weekly neighborhood get together for many of us in Meredith Woods.

Community, Relationships, and the “Bottle Shop Culture”

LM: Bottle shops tend to become gathering places. Have you seen that happen at House Creek Beverage Co.?

WS: Absolutely! Although there are a good number of lawyers that frequent our place, I rarely find myself talking with a customer about my legal work and the law. Instead, I’m more likely to find myself in conversations about NC State’s and UNC’s mutual dislike of Duke with a doctor, religion podcasts with a delivery truck driver, piloting planes with an accountant, and mah jongg with the Mah Jongg Monday crowd. And, of course, neighborhood gossip with my neighbors.

LM: What kinds of connections or friendships have grown out of the shop?

WS: Common wisdom is that you should never go into business with friends. We ignored that advice and joined with our neighbors Eric and Wendy to buy House Creek together. Elizabeth’s and my friendship with Eric and Wendy was strong before we bought the shop, but we have really bonded through the ups and downs of running a business together. The Midkiffs are special and kind people, and it is a true joy to be business partners with them.

LM: Do you have a favorite memory or moment from the shop since opening?

WS: In November 2025, there was a lot of uncertainty about available resources to feed hundreds of thousands of our neighbors in Central & Eastern NC due to government cuts in grants to charitable non-profits. As a result, our friend and neighbor David Churn asked if he could host an oyster roast on the patio at House Creek as a fundraiser for the Food Bank. We thought it was a great idea and promised that the shop would donate $1 for every draft beer purchased. Then the magic began! A dozen of our friends and neighboring businesses donated numerous gifts for a raffle. A couple of our crafty neighbors set up booths to sell their wares with profits going to the Food Bank. Finally, our bartender Matt brought his amazing band The Good Doods to entertain the crowd with their funky flow. Hundreds of people came for an all-day party that ultimately raised almost $6000 for the Food Bank.  

LM: Have you discovered any favorite beers, wines, or musical acts along the way?

WS: My favorite beers will always be anything from the Asheville breweries, particularly, Zillicoah, Riverside Rhapsody, Wedge, Highlands, and Pisgah. My favorite band that regularly plays at the shop is Full Moon Pie, my partner Eric’s band. “We love you, Eric!”

Personal Reflections

LM: What advice would you give to professionals who are thinking about pursuing a passion project or side venture?

WS: If it’s truly a passion project like our venture, do it for the fun and the intangibles. If you do it for the money, it will become another job. We do appreciate the tax write-offs though!

LM: Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of House Creek Beverage Co.?

WS: Knowing that I will see my friends and neighbors there again tomorrow.