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Grand Rapids Brewing Company closes its doors for good

The brewery has been closed since a February fire damaged the kitchen and HVAC system. Brewery officials decided to make that closure permanent.
Credit: ken Ritz
BarFly Ventures' Grand Rapids Brewing Company

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Over a century since its creation, Grand Rapids Brewing Company has decided to close its doors permanently. The closure was announced on the company's Facebook page Friday morning. 

In February, a fire damaged the brewery's kitchen and HVAC system, forcing it to close for repairs. While that closure was intended to be temporary, brewery staff decided to make it permanent.

"We extend our deepest gratitude to our dedicated team, loyal GRBC mug club members and everyone who shared moments with us at the bar over the years," said brewery officials in the Facebook post.

Grand Rapids Brewing Company began in 1893 as a collective of six breweries. Over the decades, the company became one of the largest in the Midwest, with help from their flagship beer Silver Foam. 

Prohibition forced Grand Rapids Brewing Company to stop production. The company later merged with other breweries and left Grand Rapids following the repeal of Prohibition.

In 2012, Grand Rapids Brewing reopened in downtown Grand Rapids.

"We hold onto hope for a future where Grand Rapids Brewing Company may once again call Grand Rapids home," the post reads. "For now, though, 1 Ionia Ave SW bids us farewell."

Anyone with questions on the brewery's closure should email them to support@wearebarfly.com.  

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