What does 2024 look like in your area?

A lot of changes in Dallas and its suburbs actually occurred in 2022 with places like Armadillo Ale Works, Legal Draft and Steam Theory going belly up. 2023 was rather quiet on that front, with basically all of the mainstays surviving like Turning Point, Celestial, Manhattan Project, Peticolas, Oak Highlands, etc.

The main notable closings were all over in Fort Worth area, with spots like Shannon Brewing Company shuttering about a month ago and Cowtown closing their Southlake taproom. It seems like foot traffic is down at spots like Deep Ellum, False Idol and Funky Picnic that used to be packed consistently. The number of new spots opening has ground to an almost total halt.

I'd be skeptical of any kind of collapse coming for the DFW market but the brewery taproom with an outdoor area is no longer the slam dunk business venture like it was in 2019, similar to every other region of the US. As for the outlook, it feels like status quo post-COVID. No real expansion and maybe a small contraction in outlying areas where the quality doesn't merit visits to a brewery from outside of its locale.

 

Nothing new in my area besides Creature Comforts opening

 

I watched the most recent episode of What's Brewing and Lew Bryson reported that in 2023 for Pennsylvania 23 breweries closed but 43 new breweries opened so a net gain of 20 breweries.

Cheers!

@Giantspace