Brouwerij West, a craft brewery located in a WWII Navy warehouse for nearly a decade, is hoping for a holiday miracle as it faces likely closure in a couple months. Changing social habits, shifting consumer preferences, and rising costs have made it otherwise impossible to continue, co-owner owners Brian Mercer and Dave Holop said. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
Brouwerij West, a craft brewery located in a WWII Navy warehouse for nearly a decade, is hoping for a holiday miracle as it faces likely closure in a couple months. Changing social habits, shifting consumer preferences, and rising costs have made it otherwise impossible to continue, co-owner owners Dave Holop and Brian Mercer said. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
Brouwerij West, a craft brewery located in a WWII Navy warehouse for nearly a decade, is hoping for a holiday miracle as it faces likely closure in a couple months. Changing social habits, shifting consumer preferences, and rising costs have made it otherwise impossible to continue, co-owner owners Brian Mercer and Dave Holop said. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
Brouwerij West, a craft brewery located in a WWII Navy warehouse for nearly a decade, is hoping for a holiday miracle as it faces likely closure in a couple months. Changing social habits, shifting consumer preferences, and rising costs have made it otherwise impossible to continue, co-owner owners Brian Mercer and Dave Holop said. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
Brouwerij West, a craft brewery located in a WWII Navy warehouse for nearly a decade, is hoping for a holiday miracle as it faces likely closure in a couple months. Changing social habits, shifting consumer preferences, and rising costs have made it otherwise impossible to continue, co-owner owners Dave Holop, left, and Brian Mercer said. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
Brouwerij West, a craft brewery located in a WWII Navy warehouse for nearly a decade, is hoping for a holiday miracle as it faces likely closure in a couple months. Changing social habits, shifting consumer preferences, and rising costs have made it otherwise impossible to continue, co-owner owners Dave Holop and Brian Mercer said. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
San Pedro’s Brouwerij West celebrated its 4th anniversary with live music, food trucks and new craft beers Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (Hunter Lee, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
San Pedro’s Brouwerij West celebrated its 4th anniversary with live music, food trucks and new craft beers Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (Hunter Lee, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The Harbor Animal Care Center had a pet adoption event Sunday May 1, 2016 at the Brouwerij West in San Pedro. The shelter brought in dogs of all shapes and sizes to the brewery for people to adopt. Chuck Bennett/Daily Breeze
Patrons enjoy the atmosphere at San Pedro craft brewery Brouwerij West in pre-Covid-19 days. Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The Harbor Animal Care Center had a pet adoption event Sunday May 1, 2016 at the Brouwerij West in San Pedro. The shelter brought in dogs of all shapes and sizes to the brewery for people to adopt. Chuck Bennett/Daily Breeze
Brouwerij West is located in a World War II-era warehouse in San Pedro. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Daily Breeze/SCNG)
Brouwerij West is one of the spots pouring beers at the upcoming Just Like Heaven festival in Long Beach. (Courtesy of Brouwerij West)
San Pedro’s Brouwerij West celebrated its 4th anniversary with live music, food trucks and new craft beers Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (Hunter Lee, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
San Pedro’s Brouwerij West celebrated its 4th anniversary with live music, food trucks and new craft beers Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (Hunter Lee, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
San Pedro’s Brouwerij West celebrated its 4th anniversary with live music, food trucks and new craft beers Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (Hunter Lee, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
San Pedro’s Brouwerij West celebrated its 4th anniversary with live music, food trucks and new craft beers Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. It’s outdoor spaces allow the business to accommodate social distancing, owners say. (Hunter Lee, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Brouwerij West, the full-production craft brewery and tasting room located in a World War II-era warehouse in San Pedro officially opened its doors to the public Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Chuck Bennett/Daily Breeze
Show Caption1 of 18Brouwerij West, a craft brewery located in a WWII Navy warehouse for nearly a decade, is hoping for a holiday miracle as it faces likely closure in a couple months. Changing social habits, shifting consumer preferences, and rising costs have made it otherwise impossible to continue, co-owner owners Brian Mercer and Dave Holop said. (Photo by Chuck Bennett, Contributing Photographer)
ExpandNearly a decade ago, with the craft beer industry experiencing a boom, Brouwerij West opened its doors in a former World War II warehouse in San Pedro — and it quickly became the place to go on the L.A. waterfront.
Offering live music, DJs, karaoke nights and other special events, the venue drew long lines and a reliably full house as crowds gathered to enjoy the eclectic beer offerings, a beer garden and tasting room, and food trucks — and to just have a good time hanging out with friends.
The pandemic changed much of that, though the business managed to adapt. But now, following what’s been a deeper change in social habits and consumer preferences — along with rising costs — one of the hottest businesses in town is struggling to stay afloat.
The 26,000-square-foot venue, which opened in February 2016, is poised to close in a few months — no “drop dead” date has been set — if efforts to salvage the business don’t work, its owners have said.
Brouwerij West is not alone. The craft brewery trend that was so hot in the early 2000s now finds itself struggling in a post-pandemic world that has seen a drop in alcohol consumption, especially among younger generations.
“Brewers are experiencing critical challenges at the crossroads of a high-cost environment paired with slowing growth,” Bart Watson, vice president of strategy and membership for the Brewers Association, said in one of the organization’s online articles about industry challenges. “To grow in 2025, brewers must do what they do best: adapt. They also will need to continue to do the hard work to find ways to tell their story and differentiate their brands against the competition.”
Brouwerij West has launched a GoFundMe campaign — which has raised more than $17,000 of its $250,000 goal, as of Friday afternoon — and is actively seeking partnerships to diversify and expand its business model.
The market, consumer habits and competition have changed, said Brian Mercer, who started the business with partner David Holop.
There are still crowds on weekends, Mercer said, “but they’re not drinking as much.” That’s not a bad thing, he said of the healthier trend, though some competition is also coming from the legalized cannibis industry and the sale of canned cocktails.
Costs have also gone up, the owners said, which affects both those having to buy the supplies and their customers.
“They love the site, they still want to be here,” Mercer said of the customers, “but they’re only going to have one beer. The challenge has been to try to figure out something else we can offer so they can still come down here, maybe (offering) something healthier. We’re in our own bubble and struggling to keep the business going.”
Brouwerij West is a distributor to bars, restaurants and supermarkets — all of which have also been impacted by rising prices and a smaller demand.
Related Articles
News | Survey: Small businesses feel optimistic about the economy after the election News | They sound Italian, are electric-powered and will scoot at the Rose Parade. Meet the Motocompactos News | Beloved local Fields Market in San Fernando Valley is closing its doors News | Economic challenges, opportunities await LA County in 2025, report says News | Malcolm Smith, legendary motorcyclist and Riverside business owner, dies at 83“We’ve pivoted a number of times,” Holop said, adding that the brewery has expanded to include hard ciders, seltzers and other products to its lineup of classic Belgian-style and farmhouse ales, West Coast IPAs, lagers and mixed-fermentation beers.
As word spread throughout the community about the brewery’s struggles, a push began to keep Brouwerij West going.
Social media posts — there are tens of thousands of followers on Instagram and Facebook — drew hundreds of comments, with many stunned by the news of a possible closure.
If 11,000 followers “gave $22, (the owners) would have the $250,000 (needed),” said patron Brian van der Brug of Mission Hills.
“If you gave them a dollar for every time you’ve been there this year,” he added, “give that amount.”
The brewery will throw a New Year’s Eve party on Tuesday evening, Dec. 31. The event, which will run from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., will feature a DJ. The owners are also working on a benefit concert, though there were no details yet.
Other regular activities, meanwhile, have included summer concerts and karaoke nights. The building — used by the Port of LA after it was built by the Navy — is also available for events such as weddings.
There have been potential partners that have contacted the brewery since the news about their situation went out, Mercer said.
“As a fourth-generation native of San Pedro,” Mercer said, “this has just been an amazing project and ...
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Followers stunned at possible closure of Brouwerij West craft brewery in San Pedro )
Also on site :
- 6 Subtle Signs of ‘Future Faking’ To Look Out for in Relationships, Psychologists Warn
- U.S. diplomatic negotiators working for ceasefire in Gaza as Israel ramps up attacks
- Pedro Pascal’s Arms Get Their Own Fan Club