KALAMAZOO, MI — A Kalamazoo microbrewery is closing its doors. Its owners point to road work for a slow season that hurt their business.
Brite Eyes Brewing Co.’s last day of operation will be Nov. 23, according to a Friday, Nov. 15 Facebook Post.
The business, at 1156 S. Burdick Street, is at the corner of Burdick Street and Crosstown Parkway.
“This year started out strong, but by early spring, the city had become one big road construction project with seemingly every convenient route to the brewery closed or detoured,” owners Brian and Shelby Pierce said in the Facebook post.
“Our ability to make the money we need to survive the slow winter has been compromised to the point we simply have no path forward.”
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Staff have been notified, according to the post. The owners are looking for a buyer of the business assets to hopefully cover the majority of Brite Eyes’ outstanding debt.
The closing comes just short of 10 years in business. Brite Eyes opened its doors as a coffee house in August 2015.
It expanded to serve beer and food. Menu staples include “The Cuban Sammich,” “Good Turkey Sammich,” various barbecue sandwiches, elaborately topped hot dogs and more.
“After 10-plus years chasing this dream, and over nine years in business, this is a heartbreaking end to our amazing small batch neighborhood brewery,” the owners said.
Just 300 feet down Burdick Street, a family-owned smoke shop closed after 24 years of business, citing issues with road work in the area this year.
As Kalamazoo prepares for several years of road work throughout the city and its downtown, city officials say they are working with researchers to better support local businesses.
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