The New Belgium Taproom, which opened in 2021 in a San Francisco waterfront space near the Giants’ Oracle Park, is no more.
New Belgium Brewing Company, the maker of Fat Tire, announced Thursday that it will cease operations at its San Francisco Mission Bay location, effectively shutting it down immediately, according to the Chronicle. The company said in a press release that the taproom at 1000a 3rd Street has been in business for less than three years but “has experienced financial hardship in recent years.”
The New Belgium Taproom was the company’s first location in the Bay Area, but it has been planting some roots here over the past few years. As we reported at the time, the company acquired SF’s Magnolia Brewing in 2017 for $2.7 million after Magnolia filed for bankruptcy in late 2015. The Colorado-based brewery brought in local chefs Laura Ozilmaz and Sayat Ozilmaz to develop the taproom menu (they have since opened their own popular restaurant, Dalida) .
Some employees were offered severance packages, while others were offered roles at New Belgium to remain with the company, the Chronicle reported.
Now, it’s unclear who will take over the space next. New Belgium has been replaced by Little Creatures, an Australian-based brewery also owned by Kirin Holdings, New Belgium’s parent company.
Meanwhile, we’re still waiting to see who won the auction that will determine what the future (if any) will be for San Francisco’s other troubled brewery, Anchor Brewing Company. By the way. The winning bidder was supposed to be chosen by the end of January, so it should be announced by now.
Featured image from Google Street View.