I don't blame Joey

GOOD! That is so ridiculous. I hope he'll choose SC

 

SC (and GA) has too many backwards beers laws right now. Charlotte says come on up though!

 

No we don't! And we have Westbrook, Evil Twin and COAST.

 

Don't know much about this but it seems ludicrous they would have to sell their own beer to the distributor just to buy it back for more money. Would the beer actually have to physically be shipped to the distributor and then shipped back to CC?

Good for him threatening to leave.

 

As a Florida native that misses CCB tremendously...I vote for Charlotte, NC!!!

Seriously, the situation happening in Florida is very sad and disgusting. The MAFIA that is the FL Govt would rather kill jobs and small businesses. They should be ashamed of themselves.

 

Hate to be this way, but I believe most if not all of this is basic political bantering and posturing. The idea of CCB leaving is an empty threat in my opinion that actually risks alienating existing patrons.

The cost to CCB's reputation and following would be immeasurable if they packed up and left. Many of the very people who made CCB what it is wouldnt follow them if they left. Sure, CCB would find new fans wherever they landed. Speaking solely for myself and the few thousand I spend each year at CCB if they go I'll simply spend my money at Cycle, 7venth Sun or somewhere else instead. Leaving Florida much less Tampa would be an act of betrayal to the thousands of loyal patrons who made CCB into the regional powerhouse that CCB has become.

Just one man's opinion...

 

Posturing or not, it is a real issue for a small business owner and he has to weigh his options carefully to make sure the future of CCB is secure. The idiots trying to pass this need to know that there is a direct impact to the constituents they are supposed to SERVE: chasing out a very successful small business and essentially crushing others.

I'm glad Joey came out and said it, and if the bill passes, I hope he follows through.

As far as their 'reputation,' it would strengthen it to me. CCB is not only standing up for their own business, but making a statement for all other businesses.

 

All of who complain about the ass backwards beer laws! I am sure the average tab at CCB is more than 3 pints a sitting. I guess if the Stone bill ever passed that would help.

And to wiltznucs, of course this is mostly political posturing (at least as far as up and moving). Unfortunately CCB is the only big name in Florida that has the clout to throw around this argument.

However, expanding the brewery to another state starts to make sense. Why expand in FL if they government continues to shit on you? Expand to a state that welcomes you with open arms.

 

I have to say, I think I disagree with you here. Losing "thousands of loyal patrons" when measured against 300K a year, which is what Joey's quote was is imminently measurable. If that bill passes, Florida deserves to lose CCB. Joey is saying this to get the word out that folks need to be contacting their senators and representatives and get this bill tossed. It's atrociously special interest motivated, and offensive to small business and individual liberty.

In the hypothetical (which in my opinion will remain a hypothetical) that CCB left Florida, they have developed a sufficient reputation that they would easily survive and thrive wherever they went. Those thousands of loyal patrons in Florida would easily morph into thousands of loyal patrons in Georgia, or South Carolina, or North Carolina or wherever. CCB is great for Florida and Florida Beer, but in my experience, the Florida Beer Culture still sits well behind the culture of Asheville and Asheville's culture is QUICKLY expanding to Charlotte, Greenville, Raleigh, Columbia, etc. And then there is the sleeping giant that is Charleston which is obviously starting to wake up.

If I was a BA in Florida, I'd be spreading the word as fast as I can that the bill needs to be killed.

 

Moving his entire operation is going to piss off a lot of loyal customers, and cost him crapload of money in logistics. Doesn't seem like a good idea.
However, I could see him choosing to expand out of state instead of in state.

 

We deserve to lose them? Whatever dude, I haven't been sitting on my ass about this. I've been following this legislation since it's house inception from Ray Rodrigues as HB1329, and spreading the word about it as much as I can.
I've made more calls than I can count to senators and reps, and there was a huge outpouring of breweries who came to the hearing on Monday at the senate to speak their mind.

Florida doesn't deserve to lose CCB because some politicians are choosing to ignore the large amount of opposition to this bill.

 

Cigar City has a solid fan base all over USA, Canada and Europe. You seem to miss the point here. I think he'll lose way more money if they bill passes and he stays in FL. Just think about it.

 

I think you miss my point. I'm not for CCB moving from FL, but I am for politicians not fucking over citizens and small businesses for special interest bullshit. If it's better for CCB (a small business) to leave florida, I'm for that, especially in light of the heads up their asses politician horse trading going on.

I applaud your efforts and wish you luck.

 

This,... the $300K in lost revenue Joey mentions is peanuts when compared to the cost of building a new brewery, moving key people, re-establishing distro relationships and the risk involved in choosing an area where you have no assurance that you'll find the ravenous following you've developed in Florida. Factor in those that believe that craft beer's bubble may burst and thats a lot of risk to take on for CCB. Expanding beyond FL makes sense, leaving Florida does not...

 

He doesn't need to "move" people. He can hire locals or people will move themselves to work for CCB. And I bet you he already has a plenty of established relationships all over.

 

I understand your point, but my observation is that Joey seems like a relationship builder and attributes much of CCB's success to his people. I just dont think he would operate that way...

 

As long as CCB continues to make great beer, I'll continue to consume it. I can't fault a man for wanting to be able to operate his business under ideal circumstances. If Florida insists on making it difficult for businesses like CCB to have a fair shake, I certainly wouldn't blame them for leaving.

 

If this bill passes, we need to get out there and canvass til our feet our sore and blistery, speak out to every person we can reach til our voices are harsh, and put in every ounce of our collective strength in making sure each and every one of these jagoff Senators don't get reelected.

 

This is just what big beer wants; disrupt, discourage, and displace the competition. CCB makes good beer, and JR is a good businessman with a history of giving the customers what they want. He will thrive. Wherever. Those who aren't so solid will perish. Let's not let AB have their way. Speak with your voices, votes, and wallets.