The Coney Island Brewery taproom at the base of Maimonides Park baseball stadium is set to close its doors for good on Nov. 9 due to financial woes.
The taproom has been struggled to turn a profit for several years due to “seasonality of the area” and the “high costs associated with running a taproom,” according to the Boston Beer Company, which purchased the Coney Island Brewery in 2013.
“We’ve made the difficult decision to close the doors to our Coney Island taproom on November 9,” a spokesperson for the Boston Beer Company told Brooklyn Paper. “Unfortunately, we don’t see a path to profitability in the future.”
Fans of the Coney Island Brewery will still be available to enjoy their favorite creative brews in bars, restaurants, and retail locations throughout New York, the parent company confirmed.
Ahead of the Nov. 9 shuttering, Boston Beers said its staff at the Surf Avenue location are its “top priority” and has promised to meet each staff member individually to “help determine their best path forward.”
The Alliance for Coney Island, the neighborhood’s head advocacy group, said it was saddened to hear of the Boston Beer Company’s decision to close the taproom, but that the positive trajectory of Coney Island is “clear and visible.”
“The Coney Island Brewery has been a welcoming, fun and generous presence in our neighborhood for a decade, with an incredible staff that was from and for Coney Island,” said Daniel Murphy, executive director of the alliance. “We are optimistic about the future and looking forward to attracting a new business and local music venue that builds on what CIB has done and carries on the Coney Island aesthetic.”
The Coney Island Brewery broke the news to patrons in an Instagram post on Oct. 20, thanking cherished community partners and incredible guests for their loyalty over the years.
“Whether you danced like a Mermaid in the streets, rocked out to live performances, or shared a tale or two over a pint, you’ve made our journey truly special – THANK YOU for the countless memories,” the post reads.
After operating out of its original nano-location since 2015, the Coney Island Brewery opened a vastly expanded taproom in November 2019 after some delays in the planning process. The taproom can hold up to 270 revellers between its two bars serving up favorites like Mermaid Pilsner and Merman IPA.
Coney Island Brewery have asked patrons to drop by in the coming weeks to say their goodbyes and sink one final pint.
“We know this isn’t easy to read, and it’s even harder for us to say, but we’ve still got a lot of great stuff planned for the next few weeks,” the brewery posted on Instagram. “And we’d be honored to see you one more time to share a round and bid a fond farewell. Cheers to you all and here’s to the memories that will last a lifetime.”
