After months of uncertainly rising from a conflict with their landlord, Metropolitan Brewing announced they will have to close their doors after December 17:
The 15-year-old brewer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October, according to the Chicago Tribune. The article notes that Metropolitan has suffered the same loss of business from the pandemic, and problems paying back loans, that other brewers had endured.
Metropolitan moved in 2013 from its original Ravenswood brewery to Rockwell on the River. The former tannery on the Chicago River had been redeveloped for artisans and food makers by Landlord Paul Levy.
In 2019, co-founders Doug and Tracy Hurst disputed their rent arrangement. They had negotiated a lease for 24,000 square feet, but the lease they were given to sign was for about 33,000 square feet. A flurry of suits and counter-suits failed to resolve the problem.
The Hursts have said they currently have no plans to refinance or reopen.
Besides a line of German style lager beers, Metropolitan has been a contract brewer for other labels, like the re-established historical brand Conrad Seipp Brewing Co.
Block Club Chicago has further information on the closure, including reactions from patrons at Metropolitan.
