GEORGETOWN, Del.- After speculation late last week, 16 Mile Brewery has officially closed its doors.
On Monday, the local brewery's LED sign on Bedford Street read, "Thank you for a great decade." The brewery's doors were locked, the lights off, and a sign read "CLOSED. We appreciated your business and are sorry to inform you that we have decided to close 16 Mile Brewery and Tavern indefinitely. Thank you for your patronage and support over the last 9 years."
Greater Georgetown Chamber of Commerce Director of Operations Kevin Thompson says a 16 Mile Brewery employee called the chamber to cancel future events with it and cited the company's closure as the reason. However, Thompson says why the company decided to shut down has yet to be disclosed.
"I did hear they were talking about selling off the equipment," he says. "I think the family of Brett [McCrea] the owner owns the land and the building so I don't know what they'll do with that."
Georgetown Mayor Bill West says he's spoken with McCrea, who did not respond to WBOC's multiple requests for comment.
"He's happy. I think some of the pressure is off of him and I support him with whatever he decides to do," West tells WBOC. "I am just hoping we can find another [brewery] to come to Georgetown."
West speculates that 16 Mile's lack of food played a role in the company's closure, as brewpubs are increasingly popular and popping up around the area. West also says new restaurants in Georgetown could have added more competition for 16 Mile customers.
"Me personally, I think he didn't want to go that routine with a restaurant and he was more into the distribution," West explains. "His nightlife there at the brewpub had started to go down. He wasn't getting the amount of people he was earlier when he was open. I don't think it was the product and I don't think it was him personally."
Many local liquor stores and one restaurant that serve 16 Mile beers tell WBOC they plan to sell the product until it runs out.
In addition to the brewery being closed, 16 Mile's website, social media pages and page on the state of Delaware's tourism website have shut down as well.