USA, MI: ThumbCoast Brewing Company announces permanent closing

ThumbCoast Brewing Company in Port Huron announced "the permanent closing" of the business in a Facebook post on December 8, Port Huron Times Herald Reported.

"The challenges that we’ve faced throughout 2016, especially those which had (a) significant impact on revenue during the months of May and June, have finally caught up with us and we can no longer move forward," it stated.

The city of Port Huron spent seven weeks in May and June rebuilding the East Quay parking lot that accommodated most ThumbCoast patrons. At the end of May, ThumbCoast owner Dennis Doyle said, "The work has definitely impacted our business. We have fewer customers. Some complain about not having any place to park — it’s what you would expect — nobody is happy about it.”

The December 8’s Facebook announcement did not divulge further reasoning behind the decision to close the brewery, 330 Quay St. in downtown Port Huron. A sign on the door in the evening read, "closed."

But it thanked local residents for support and added that, despite efforts to bring culture and a "true craft beer experience" to the city, "we simply did not find our niche here in Port Huron."

Doyle bought the brewing company and restaurant two and a half years ago from Ed and Vicki Peterson. They founded the Quay Street Brewing Co. in 1997.

Earlier this year, Doyle — under BluMoose Management Group — was approved for a microbrewer, small wine maker and small distiller liquor license in Imlay City, and the 7,500-square-foot ThumbCoast Brewing building in downtown Port Huron has been listed for sale for $990,000 through DeLacy Real Estate Exchange.

Additionally, steps have been taken through the state to transfer the site's liquor license to "The Press Room LLC" at the Times Herald building, 911 Military St., which is owned by Michigan Mutual.

Doyle could not be immediately reached for comment.

"This is not an easy decision for me and my family. I truly believe that the quality of the product we’ve provided at ThumbCoast was second to none," the post states.

A year ago Doyle announced the company was expanding to distribute beer to restaurants and bars. At that time, the brewery was producing about 400 barrels of beer a year using a 7-barrel system.

Doyle purchased the building in December 2013.

14 December, 2016