Bauhaus Brew Labs to close June

Bauhaus Brew Labs said Thursday that it will close its Northeast Minneapolis brewery at the end of June, ending a 12-year run for one of the city’s best-known craft beer taprooms. The company said in a social media post that rising supply-chain costs, weaker demand for craft beer, the lingering effects of the pandemic and a recent surge in federal immigration enforcement had made the business unsustainable. The brewery said it would remain open through June and hold a final weekend of events from June 26 to June 28. The announcement came one day before Art-A-Whirl, one of the busiest weekends of the year for Northeast Minneapolis businesses. ### Which brewery is closing, and when does it stop operating? Bauhaus Brew Labs said its last weekend of operations will be June 26-28 at its brewery at 1315 Tyler Street NE in Minneapolis. The company’s website and local coverage identify the taproom as a Northeast Minneapolis venue that opened in 2014 and became known for large events as well as German-style lagers. (kstp.com) May 14 was the date of the closure announcement, which Bauhaus made in an Instagram post that was subsequently reported by local outlets. KSTP and KARE 11 both said the brewery plans a final celebration during its closing weekend. ### What reasons did Bauhaus give for shutting down? (kstp.com) Bauhaus said it had faced “serious challenges over the past few years,” including “substantial cost increases” in its supply chain, “shifts in consumer preferences away from craft beer,” the pandemic and “a surge in federal immigration enforcement” that “deeply affected businesses across the hospitality industry.” The company said it had tried to cut costs, raise revenue and change its business model before deciding to close. (kstp.com) The company’s statement tied the latest pressure to enforcement activity in Minneapolis earlier this year. The City of Minneapolis said in February that Operation Metro Surge had caused at least $203.1 million in impact in one month alone, affecting businesses, residents and city operations. ### Why did immigration enforcement become part of the story? (kstp.com) February coverage put Bauhaus among the businesses publicly describing the effect of Operation Metro Surge on customer traffic. KARE 11 reported that president Drew Hurst said January taproom traffic was down roughly 44% from a year earlier. (minneapolismn.gov) Drew Hurst told KARE 11 at the time, “We are not too big to fail,” as the brewery urged customers to keep supporting local hospitality businesses. Bauhaus’s closure statement did not quantify how much of its overall financial strain came from immigration enforcement versus broader industry pressures, but it named the crackdown as one of several factors behind the decision. (kare11.com) ### What did Bauhaus become known for in Minneapolis? Bauhaus opened in July 2014 in the Crown Iron Works building in Northeast Minneapolis, according to local reports and the brewery’s website. KSTP said the company built its reputation on a spacious taproom and traditional German-style lagers, then later expanded into hard seltzers and THC drinks as consumer tastes shifted. (kare11.com) The brewery also tied itself closely to the neighborhood’s arts calendar. Bauhaus said it would still hold its annual Liquid Zoo celebration this weekend alongside Art-A-Whirl, a major draw for the area’s breweries, galleries and music venues. ### What happens between now and the shutdown? (kstp.com) Art-A-Whirl begins May 15, and Bauhaus said its Liquid Zoo event will go forward despite the closure announcement. The brewery said it plans to “send Bauhaus off” with beer, music and a closing-weekend gathering. (kstp.com) June 26-28 is the final weekend Bauhaus has identified for operations at 1315 Tyler Street NE. As of this week, the company’s site was still listing regular taproom hours and contact information for the Northeast Minneapolis location. (bauhausbrewlabs.square.site) (kare11.com)