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Tag: taproom

  • Sycamore Brewing’s ‘family-friendly’ expansion to Cotswold no longer in the works

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    Sycamore Brewing’s planned expansion at Cotswold Village Shopping Center is no longer happening and the space is back on the market in the wake of rape and assault charges against the brewery’s co-founder.

    Last spring, Sycamore had announced the new location, saying via Instagram that it would be designed with “more of a family-friendly atmosphere with kid’s menu and table service, plus this location will include a giant beer garden with games, TVs, and a play spot.”

    The March post continued: “Everyone will enjoy the expanded food menu, brunch options, live music and community events. The taproom will be 7,000 square feet and the beer garden over 10,000 square feet!”

    The change in plans was first reported by Charlotte Business Journal.

    Thrift Real Estate is now advertising a freestanding building at 262-282 S Sharon Amity Road prime for a “restaurant opportunity,” marketing materials say. It offers 6,000 square feet plus a 1,200-square-foot patio space.

    A message left for Charles Thrift of Thrift Commercial Real Estate was not immediately returned Monday afternoon.

    A call placed to Asana Partners, which owns Cotswold Village, was also not immediately returned.

    Sycamore Taproom closed indefinitely Monday to “allow space for processing, healing and beginning the work of reimagining this community space.“ Owner and co-founder Sarah Taylor had announced the plans in a late December letter to the community.

    A planned expansion for Sycamore Brewery has been quashed.
    A planned expansion for Sycamore Brewery has been quashed. Alex Cason CharlotteFive

    Sycamore setbacks

    The collapse in plans was the latest setback in the aftermath of rape and assault charges filed against the brewery’s co-founder,

    Justin Tawse Brigham, 44, was charged Dec. 11 with statutory rape of a child under 15, first-degree burglary and indecent liberties with a child.

    Additional charges included felony assault related to inflicting serious bodily injury over allegations that Brigham assaulted a man Dec. 10 by grabbing and twisting his genitals, causing extreme pain.

    Since the arrest, Taylor has announced that she’s initiated divorce proceedings and removed Brigham from the business.

    Restaurants and retailers have pulled Sycamore products off the shelf, and the Sycamore taproom at Charlotte Douglas International Airport has been closed.

    Related Stories from Charlotte Observer

    Heidi Finley

    The Charlotte Observer

    Heidi Finley is a writer and editor for CharlotteFive and the Charlotte Observer. Outside of work, you will most likely find her in the suburbs driving kids around, volunteering and indulging in foodie pursuits.
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    Heidi Finley

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  • Lagunitas Closes Chicago Taproom to Move Brewing Operations Back to California

    Lagunitas Closes Chicago Taproom to Move Brewing Operations Back to California

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    Lagunitas Brewing Company is closing its Chicago taproom and relocating its brewing operations back to its original California brewery. The company will maintain its warehouse next to the Douglass Park brewery, according to a news release.

    The announcement comes a little more than a year after Lagunitas reopened its North Lawndale taproom which was closed for three years due to the pandemic. The brewery opened its Chicago facility, 1843 W. Washtenaw, in 2014. Lagunitas was founded in California in 1993. The closure impacts 86 workers, according to the brewery, and some will move west to work at the Petaluma, California facility.

    Lagunitas served food when it first opened in 2014.
    Marc Much/Eater Chicago

    An industrial bottling facility inside Lagunitas Chicago Taproom and Brewery.

    They’re moving operations back to California.
    Marc Much/Eater Chicago

    “Chicago remains a priority market for Lagunitas, and the company will continue servicing the many partner bars, restaurants, and stores in and around Chicagoland with its fresh and high-quality hop-forward IPAs and other brews,” according to a news release.

    The taproom was once a destination for beer lovers, as beers like A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ were popular in Chicago’s bars. The Chicago brewing facility presented a gateway to the Midwest and East Coast, as Lagunitas pursued expansion. In September 2015, Heineken’s parent company bought a 50-percent stake in Lagunitas. Two years later, the multinational company purchased the remaining 50 percent.

    When the taproom reopened in 2023, it did so without food. The news release singles out needing to “future-proof” the company and “to allow for a more efficient and flexible supply chain, with a greater focus on innovation and the acceleration of more sustainable brewing practices.” Simply put, craft breweries have struggled in recent months with several closures.

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    Ashok Selvam

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  • Lincoln Square Taproom’s Owner to Open a Bistro in the Cafe Selmarie Space

    Lincoln Square Taproom’s Owner to Open a Bistro in the Cafe Selmarie Space

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    As Chicagoans prepare to say farewell to Cafe Selmarie, a cozy Lincoln Square favorite that’s preparing to close after more than four decades, news about its forthcoming replacement is beginning to surface.

    Andrew Pillman, the owner of neighboring beer bar Lincoln Square Taproom, has applied for a liquor license under the business name Willow Cafe and Bistro at 4729 N. Lincoln Avenue. The restaurant is Pillman’s second takeover of a Lincoln Square institution, as in 2021 he opened the taproom in the former home of Huettenbar, one of the area’s last-remaining German taverns. In 2021, he opened a sister bar, Uptown Taproom. Pillman also runs Lakeview Taproom, which opened in July 2020. In November 2023, the space rebranded to add a coffee component.

    In the case of Huttenbar, back in 2021, Pillman told Block Club that he intended to preserve the dive’s German charm. However, regulars say Pillman and his crews drastically changed the bar’s vibe including replacing a mural that helped define the space.

    Cafe Selmarie owner Birgit Kobayashi announced her plans to retire and close Cafe Selmarie in September 2023 but has yet to share a closing date. The restaurant will remain open “through at least the end of April,” according to its website.

    Pillman and Kobayashi did not respond to requests for comment.

    A Lincoln Square pillar since Kobayashi and her late business partner Jean Uzdawanis founded it in 1983, Selmarie (a portmanteau of its founders’ middle names, Birgit Selma and Jeanne Marie) oversaw a transformation in the area from its perch on Giddings Plaza. It was home to the first espresso machine in the neighborhood and quickly garnered a following for its comfortable atmosphere, fresh baked goods made on-site, and an all-day lineup of soups, salads, sandwiches, and pasta. In 2017, Kobayashi became Selmarie’s sole proprietor following Uzdawanis’ death at age 63 after a battle with ovarian cancer.

    While few additional details about Willow Cafe and Bistro are available as yet, Pillman seems primed for a busy year. He’s applied for a liquor license for another beer bar, Rogers Park Taproom & Coffee House, at 1615 W. Howard Street. The space previously housed indie coffeehouse Sol Cafe and in February, Pillman told Block Club Chicago that he aims to compensate for the cafe’s closure by serving Hexe Coffee alongside beer, cocktails, breakfast, and lunch.

    Stay tuned for more on Cafe Selmarie’s closing date and more details on Willow Cafe and Bistro.

    Willow Cafe and Bistro, 4729 N. Lincoln Avenue, Opening date is not yet available.

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    Naomi Waxman

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  • Utah Cidery Thieves Guild Announces Central 9th SLC Location

    Utah Cidery Thieves Guild Announces Central 9th SLC Location

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    Immersive micro-cidery and taproom joins rapidly-growing Central 9th neighborhood


    SALT LAKE CITY, June 27, 2023 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Thieves Guild Cidery has announced construction on its first location, featuring a taproom and production cellar buildout at 117 W 900 S, located in the former Alphagraphics building.

    Thieves Guild joins other acclaimed bars in the rapidly-growing Central 9th neighborhood (sometimes referred to as Granary Row or the Granary District), with close neighbors including Water Witch, Scion Cider, and The Pearl.

    Owners Jordy Kirkman and Maxwel Knudsen bring a combined total of 22+ years of hospitality and cidermaking experience to Thieves Guild Cidery. Currently, they’re working on updating the Thieves Guild building to include an ultra-modern cellar and tavern-like taproom inspired by fantasy lore. Offerings will include unique, small-batch cider and mead on tap, with eccentric bar snacks, such as candied bacon and spicy chicharrones with bleu cheese mousse.

    “We want people to have an immersive experience at Thieves Guild,” said Maxwel Knudsen. “We’re putting intention and soul into our atmosphere. When you walk in, you can choose your own adventure. You can sit back and relax in a cozy booth with a craft cider or engage in unique community activities and tabletop games that we’re making ourselves or curating from independent creators.”

    Thieves Guild will offer a different cider experience from what Utah has seen before, including exclusive small-batch infusions and flavor combinations. Patrons will find cider infused with basil, dandelion, and even MSG, with whimsical-sounding names, such as Dark Portal, Prancing Pony, and Garden Wall.

    “We’re trying to make up for 100 years of cider experimentation the US missed out on after Prohibition,” said Jordy Kirkman. “Craft beer continued to evolve and change during that time, culminating in many modern beer styles we enjoy today, but cider hasn’t quite caught up. We’re on a mission to change that.”

    For more information and updates, follow @thievesguildcidery on Instagram or visit www.thievesguildciery.com. For the full press kit, visit www.thievesguildcidery.com/press

    About Thieves Guild Cidery

    Thieves Guild Cidery, founded by Maxwel Knudsen and Jordy Kirkman, is a micro-cidery located in the Central 9th neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Utah. It offers a unique taproom experience, serving small-batch, specialty craft cider, and meads in a beautiful fantasy tavern.

    Source: Thieves Guild Cidery

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