Armory Square’s Empire Brewing Co. is closed

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[Fly Rodder]

Saw this coming ... again.

Not sure how reputable the "Armory Boys" are as landlords, but Empire has had their issues.

 

[samspann1]

ugh. loved this place.

 

[FreakTalksAboutSU]

Yeah this sucks. First Awful Al's changed from the place I loved (in fairness, not entirely their fault), then they closed Clark's on me, and now this. All the places I used to make it a point to go to are disappearing.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Their beer sucks.

 

[Newhouser]

The craft beer craze has got to end soon. That state money will go to the marijuana growers.

 

[upperdeck]

has it created more or just spread the buying out to more people?

used to be you would go to a bar and enjoy it with a bunch of people.. now you go to a craft place and sit with 3 people..

 

[Cusefan0307]

The craft beer craze has got to end soon. That state money will go to the marijuana growers.

The craze as in what? There's a generation divide here. Gen X drinks the traditional brews. My generation and younger drink a lot of craft. While beer sales overall have been flat, craft breweries are eating into the factory breweries sales.

Now pot if it becomes legal will affect that, but how much I'm not sure. I suspect the people who will purchase it legally are already purchasing it illegally.

 

[FreakTalksAboutSU]

Statement from Empire

By: David Katleski, founder, Empire Brewing Company
Thursday, October 17, 2019

The success of Downtown Syracuse, in particular Armory Square, has been at the forefront of my interest and business priority since 1992. When Empire Brewing Company first opened its doors on November 3rd, 1994 I think we paid $3 per square foot; a fair rent at the time for a basement. And over the past quarter-century and five different landlords we have watched Armory Square grow into something remarkable. Local business people interested in creating a unique entertainment and shopping district of downtown primarily developed Armory Square, fostering the character we see today.

While I applaud the investments being made in Syracuse by outsiders, it’s concerning to see some negotiations are not done for the betterment of our city but solely for personal interest. I am not a proponent of increased regulations but I do believe that a structured growth plan for Armory Square is prudent. Now outside developers purchasing buildings are doubling and tripling tenant rents. Solid businesses are being forced out of their locations as a type of cleansing because they are not able to sustain the new occupancy costs or don’t fit within the landlord’s grand scheme.

Such is the case with Empire Brewing Company in Armory Square. Prior to the Armory Boys acquisition of our buildings Empire paid an average of $10 per square foot; a fair rent for a basement space. When the Armory Boys purchased the buildings, they raised our occupancy costs to average $33 per square foot. Rather than being evicted, and lose 50 jobs, we moved forward optimistically hoping to conquer these economic challenges and remain a cornerstone of Armory Square. Empire has paid over $300,000 more in rent and additional charges in the past 24 months versus the 24 months prior. It is simply not reasonable to expect Empire, occupying less then 20% of the total leasable space, to pay 100% of the Landlord’s mortgage.

In addition, an extensive punch list of landlords required work in the brewpub has gone unfinished. When I was promised an increase in business by having them as our landlord the opposite has occurred. We were promised full tenancy in the two buildings and the opposite has occurred with increased vacancy. Renovations to the Piper Phillips Building went well beyond the projected construction timeframe and during the past two-years of construction we were forced to deal with constant operational disruptions, construction noise and renovation dust, with no rent concessions whatsoever. Empire has been operating for the past 6 months without a Certificate of Occupancy because the buildings sprinkler system is not to code.

The economics of the lease is unsustainable and has caused deficits at the brewpub. Having to pay three times the occupancy cost forced us to cut labor at the sacrifice of service, decrease portion sizes and increase prices, which caused us to fall short on the customer experience that we strive to deliver. The occupancy cost has made it impossible to invest profits back into the business for marketing, renovations and upgrades. We were current on all charges up until August when I asked the Armory Boys for rent concessions; if they wanted Empire to continue as a tenant, we needed a 3-month rent abatement (just rent, not taxes and utilities) and a revised rent structure moving forward.
Tuesday night Jeffrey Appel, managing partner for Armory Boys, LLC locked the gate and all access to Empire without a NYS court order and took possession of all of the contents including perishables, beer, liquor, tenant property and employee personal items.

In as much as I love operating the brewpub in Armory Square, it pains me to admit that we are at a significant impasse with the Armory Boys and will be closed indefinitely. Losing nearly 50 jobs at the pub also pains me greatly.

Over a thousand people have worked at Empire on Walton Street during the past 25 years and each have helped us create and serve award-winning beers and critically acclaimed foods. Thank you to all that have worked here and all that have patronized Empire’s brewpub. November 3rd will be our 25th anniversary. Please raise a glass of your favorite Empire beer in remembrance of the pub and join us in celebrating a quarter century of business.

STATEMENT ON EMPIRE BREWING COMPANY - Empire Brewing Company

By: David Katleski, founder, Empire Brewing Company Thursday, October 17, 2019 The success of Downtown Syracuse, in particular Armory Square, has been at the forefront of my interest and business...

empirebrew.com

 

[orangenauburn]

The 'old school' craft breweries are dying off and struggling.

There are just so many better options now than before and there is no brand loyalty anymore.