Anchor Brewery in San Francisco Closes Its Doors After 127 Years | Gateway Experts | by Mike LaChance

Over the last few months, we’ve covered the closures of many businesses in San Francisco, but this one hurt the people who live there the most.

Anchor Brewery has been a regular in San Francisco for over a hundred years and now they are closing.

This is one case that is not primarily about crime, drugs, and homelessness. The brewery has been hit hard by the closure of bars and restaurants during the pandemic. They actually had problems before, but the pandemic sealed their fate.

ABC News 7 report:

SF’s Anchor Brewing Company, the nation’s first brewery, is closing after 127 years

After 127 years in business, Anchor Brewing Company in San Francisco is closing.

According to a press release, the brewery has faced challenging economic factors and declining sales since 2016.

“This was an extremely difficult decision that Anchor reached only after months of careful evaluation,” said Anchor Brewing spokesman Sam Singer. “We recognize the importance and historical significance of Anchor to San Francisco and the craft brewing industry, but the impact of the pandemic, inflation, especially in San Francisco, and the highly competitive market left the company with no choice but to make this sad. decision to stop operations.”

With roots dating back to the California Gold Rush, often cited as America’s first brewery to legally liquidate business.

“Right now, these are difficult economic times,” Singer told ABC7 News. “And Anchor’s death is symbolic of that.”…

“Sales of anchors are concentrated in bars and taprooms. When the pandemic came, it was over completely,” Singer shared. “The company has transitioned into selling in grocery stores and markets and is late to the game to do that to a big degree.”

Here is a local video report:

Apparently, unions may also play a role here.

BREAKING: Anchor Steam, a popular craft brew company founded in 1896 in San Francisco with a fiercely loyal following, is closing, declaring bankruptcy.

Note: Local DSA helped Anchor Steam employees unionize in 2019. Learn more: https://t.co/MYs2LtpM0u pic.twitter.com/kvMNYTVeok

— Richie Greenberg (@greenbergnation) July 12, 2023

It’s still sad news.

after I heard they stopped all operations this morning, rode my bike brewing anchor on my way to work. flag flying upside down.

a dark, gloomy day for san francisco beer drinkers. pic.twitter.com/0UL5xyAWHT

— Grant Marek (@Grant_Marek) July 12, 2023

The hits kept coming to San Francisco.