USA, KY: Bluegrass Brewing Company moving from its St. Matthews location

Bluegrass Brewing Company is moving from its St. Matthews location after 23 years on Shelbyville Road, the Courier-Journal reported on January 27.

On January 27, co-owner Pat Hagan told the Courier-Journal that the company has agreed to forgo its lease on the brewery's building so that another restaurant can move in.

Partners in the new venture were previously involved in Sully's Saloon, a Fourth Street Live! bar and restaurant that closed in 2013 after an 11-year run.

They plan to open a similar concept — called Sullivan's Tap House — in the BBC building, though it will be unaffiliated with Sully's former parent company, East Coast Saloons, co-owner Matt Taylor said.

"We want to have great local food, local beers, local spirits," said Taylor, who will run the taphouse with partners John Sullivan and New York Jets player Breno Giacomini. "The late night will have some similarities between Sullivan's and Sully's."

Hagan said he is sad to leave the St. Matthews spot, but the interest in the building — owned by Breland Development — could not have come at a better time.

Soon, construction will start on a new BBC restaurant in the Kindred Healthcare facility at the corner of Broadway and Fourth Street. And Hagan hopes to find a new building in the East End where he can reopen a taproom and resume retail production.

"It's tougher than I thought it would be," Hagan said of closing the St. Matthews spot. "We've been here 23 years now. Most restaurants don't make it that long. But BBC is going to be stronger than ever, there's no doubt."

BBC has signed an agreement that requires the brewery to vacate the space by the end of the month. So Hagan said the business's last day will be Feb. 5, leaving enough time to relocate its extensive brewing equipment.

The brewery plans to end the era with a bang by offering beer specials daily and holding a special party for members of its Wort Hog Club from 2-5 p.m. the final Sunday.

BBC's owners plan to place as many employees as possible in its other businesses, including its restaurant on Main Street. But Hagan said he's confident his workers will be able to find jobs elsewhere.

"Servers and cooks don't usually have a problem finding jobs, especially in this town," Hagan said.

Hagan has already begun searching for a warehouse where he could begin production brewing, but he said he has thus far not settled on a location.

For more than a year, BBC has not had bottles of its beer on liquor store shelves — the result of the company's former production brewery ending its partnership to become its own entity, Goodwood.

Hagan said hopefully having a new, larger space will allow BBC to get its beers back to the public in bottles or cans.

A statement from the Sullivan's Tap House owners describes the new concept as a restaurant and entertainment spot serving gastropub-style food and featuring more than 30 televisions for sports fans.

"Whether stopping by for lunch, dinner or after work drinks, Sullivan's will have something for everyone," the statement read.

30 January, 2017