Cross-post w/ Mountain Forum. Slate Creek is closing down Wednesday night. http://www.spokane7.com/blog/2017/oct/16/slate-creek-runs-dry/ They were a bit inconsistent, but they enjoyed a local following. The tap room always had a number of folks there. I'll miss'em.
And now Downdraft in Post Falls - looks like the long-anticipated shakeout is underway: http://www.spokane7.com/blog/2017/oct/17/downdraft-announces-closure17/
I've had a few Downdraft beers. All serviceable, but nothing that blew me away. I think competing with Selkirk and PF in a town the size of Post Falls might've been the problem. Hopefully, these will be the last closures we see for a while.
It's always hard to tell, from here in the peanut gallery, why a given spot makes this decision. Maybe the eyes were to big for the tummy? Maybe they listened too much/too little to their regulars/visitors? For sure, keeping your full time gig, while taking on the full time gig of running a brewery, on the side, is undoubtedly difficult.
As this article points out, the number of closures is deceptive. It may appear like a bubble popping but most of it is due to personal choices or simply unfortunate events (especially in the case of Budge Bros). I agree with Downdraft and John Bryant though. The scene has changed for both bars and breweries. It's no longer enough to be just "not macro."
