In recent months, Breaking Digest has covered the unfortunate closure of various businesses in San Francisco, but none seems to have hit the local residents harder than this one.
Anchor Brewery, a longstanding establishment in San Francisco for well over a century, is now closing its doors.
Interestingly, this closure is primarily not attributed to issues such as crime, drugs, or homelessness, which have affected other businesses. Instead, the brewery has suffered greatly due to the pandemic-induced closure of bars and restaurants. Although they were already facing difficulties prior to the pandemic, the ongoing crisis ultimately sealed their fate.
ABC 7 News has the story:
After 127 years in business, San Francisco’s Anchor Brewing Company is shutting down.
According to a press release, the brewery has been facing challenging economic factors and declining sales since 2016.
“This was an extremely difficult decision that Anchor reached only after many months of careful evaluation,” Anchor Brewing spokesperson Sam Singer said. “We recognize the importance and historic significance of Anchor to San Francisco and to the craft brewing industry, but the impacts of the pandemic, inflation, especially in San Francisco, and a highly competitive market left the company with no option but to make this sad decision to cease operations.”
With roots dating back to the California Gold Rush, what’s often referred to as America’s first craft brewery is officially liquidating business.
“Right now, these are some tough economic times,” Singer told ABC7 News. “And Anchor’s demise is symbolic of that.”…
“Anchor sales were centered in bars, taprooms. When the pandemic came along, those ended completely,” Singer shared. “The company had switched to selling in grocery stores and markets and was late to the game to do that at a large level.”
Unionization may have contributed to this situation.
The flag is flying upside down on the Anchor Brewing Company building in San Francisco.
