Saskatoon’s 9 Mile Legacy Brewing is closing its taproom
Saskatoon’s 9 Mile Legacy Brewing will be closing down its taproom.
“We're not going out of business,” CEO and co-founder Shawn Moen told CTV News.
Moen said they were looking at closing down their location on 20th Street, but continue to create great products.
“The spot on 20th opened up in 2017. And it was our flagship taproom and nano brewery,” Moen explained.
“We essentially stripped it down to the studs and built it right back out to a place that we were super, super proud of and had great memories.”
But the building hit capacity in 2018, he said, which prompted them to aim for an expansion. Then COVID-19 hit and delayed the work.
“We commissioned a larger facility, which is only three blocks away and is about 10,000 square feet.”
He said it soon became clear that having two locations was not the right choice.
“Running two facilities just wasn't a reasonable path forward for us. So we kind of developed a strategy in early last year to build out our retail presence in the new place, which is what we'll do now.”
Moen said they tried to sell the building as a turnkey operation to keep it going for the community.
“What got in the way of getting a deal like that done was the interest rate situation and the economic situation that we're in right now. We ended up getting to our decision last week that we can't wait for the perfect solution anymore.”
The last day for the location will be June 4, the Facebook post said.
“We want to send the facility off in the right way. So we'll have some private parties with our stakeholders in the weeks to follow, but it's gonna be bittersweet for a lot of people,” Moen said.
“I think that it feels that building really occupied a community hub role and, it wasn't an easy decision to move on. The reality was that our business is growing in different ways and it's really an evolution moment.”
Moen said they were still focused on making great products.
“We'll still make the kegs and cans of beer that people love. We'll still work with our great wholesale partners in both Regina and Saskatoon. People will eventually be able to buy a beer directly from the brewery again, hopefully, sooner than we think.”
However, he did say it was not an easy decision.
“It was a really challenging decision. It was sad, but we're also really excited about the future too.”
He said the company’s legacy was inspiration for other Saskatchewan businesses.
“We started extremely small and we bootstrapped this thing up to the point where we are a brand that is recognized internationally. There was a there's a point in time a few weeks ago when we led the technology section in Bloomberg as a result of a project we did with ChatGPT. I think that if you're an entrepreneur, your opportunities are limitless. You just have to get in and do it and work hard and be strategic.”
Moen said they’ll look back fondly at what they built.
“We've enjoyed every moment. We treasure the Riversdale community and we're looking forward to reimagining a brewery retail experience in the near future.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trump wins the White House in political comeback rooted in appeals to frustrated voters
Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States on Wednesday, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.
Election takeaways: Trump's decisive victory in a deeply divided nation
Donald Trump scored a decisive victory in a deeply divided nation. And in so doing, the Republican president-elect exposed a fundamental weakness within the Democratic base and beat back concerns about his moral failings, becoming the first U.S. president with a felony conviction.
Republicans take Senate majority and eye unified power with Trump
Republicans have taken control of the U.S. Senate and are fighting to keep their majority in the U.S. House, which would produce a full sweep of GOP power in Congress alongside U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in the White House.
B.C. parents sue Irish nanny for quitting on short notice
Two parents filed a lawsuit in B.C. Supreme Court last week seeking damages from their former nanny, alleging she quit on short notice and "never said goodbye to the children."
Blues forward leaves rink on stretcher after being struck in neck by puck
St. Louis Blues forward Dylan Holloway left Tuesday night's contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning and departed the rink on a stretcher after being struck by a puck late in the first period.
Lamborghini driver who crashed into parked cars while trying to pass streetcar sentenced to prison
A mortgage broker who totalled his Lamborghini and left a passenger with life-altering injuries after trying to pass a Toronto streetcar at nearly three times the speed limit has been handed a two-and-a-half year prison sentence.
Ben Affleck had this to say about his ex, Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck may be going through a divorce, but it sounds like things are amicable.
Democrat Sarah McBride of Delaware to become first openly transgender person to serve in Congress
Delaware state Sen. Sarah McBride has been elected to the U.S. House and will become the first openly transgender person to serve in Congress.
B.C. RCMP say drunk driver crashed SUV then switched seats with passenger – who crashed again
Two drunk women crashed the same SUV into the same parked car in the same motel parking lot in Prince George, B.C., last week, according to police.