https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-ra...-closing-grand-rapids-kalamazoo-taprooms.html Their Kalamazoo location has been closed since the fire last fall. Sounds like the GR closure came as a surprise. Article below— GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Saugatuck Brewing Company has permanently closed its taprooms in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. The company, which also has a taproom near Saugatuck in Douglass, said in a statement that the closures come amid a “challenging time” for the craft beer industry, and that it’s shifting its focus toward distribution. Four highways closed after black ice issues “We’ve always believed in brewing great beer, and in today’s evolving industry, we’re making the difficult choice to shift our focus toward growing our presence through distribution,” said John Miller, CEO of Saugatuck Brewing Company. “This decision was not made lightly, as our Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo taprooms have been an integral part of our story.” A spokesperson for Saugatuck Brewing Company said Miller was not taking interviews Monday afternoon, and that questions sent by email would not be answered. Saugatuck’s announcement did not say how many employees were losing jobs because of the closure. Nor did it provide further information on specific challenges facing the brewery. Saugatuck Brewing Company opened in 2005, and describes itself as an independently-owned craft brewery with a footprint encompassing 13 states and seven countries. The company entered the Grand Rapids brick-and-mortar market in 2021 when it purchased Creston Brewery, 1504 Plainfield Ave. NE. The original Creston Brewery opened in 2016 by brewmaster Scott Schultz and Chief Financial Officer Vincent Lambert. However, the brewery closed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and never reopened. Saugatuck Brewing Company purchased the brewery in April 2021 and later reopened the space with the Creston name and branding still in place. Saugatuck’s Kalamazoo taproom opened in April 2023 at 200 E. Michigan Ave., a space that previously housed Olde Peninsula Brewpub and Restaurant. However, the location has been closed since a fire in August, and Saugatuck Brewing Company will not be reopening the space, the company’s announcement said. “We are incredibly grateful to have been a part of both of these communities,” Miller said. “The memories made, the friendships formed, and the unwavering support from our patrons have been invaluable.” Saugatuck Brewing Company’s Douglas location, 2948 Blue Star Highway, will remain open.
