Temperatures will continue to fall over the next few days

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After nearly nine years at Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis, Eastlake Craft Brewery 

 it will be closing its doors permanently on Sept. 23. 

Founder Ryan Pitman said it was a difficult decision, but that the business never fully recovered from the COVID pandemic or civil unrest in the neighborhood in 2020. Rising rent was also an issue.

“The financials are really what made that decision. It’s not something that I took lightly or that I really wanted to do at all,” Pitman said. “I love the community here. I love showing up to work every day, and the people that I’ve met in the last nine years are going to be lifelong friends.” 

 grew a reputation as a community-minded establishment — from hosting weekly event nights like trivia and bicycle functions, to partnering with other vendors. As closure looms, Pitman said he’s apprehensive about what that means for the area.

“We’re all looking for where the hangouts are going to be. We’ll get that figured out — but you know, there’s not a lot of places down here,” he said. “We’re looking at traveling a mile if you want to look for another place that sells craft beer, whether it’s a brewery or just a bar like Palmer’s or something. It’s not like Northeast [Minneapolis] where you can just go next door.”

The closure will also affect 12 Eastlake employees.

“This is kind of an earth-shattering moment for me and a lot of people. But you know, it’s the end of an era and it’s time for a new chapter I guess,” Pitman said.

Last week another local craft brewery — Dangerous Man — 

 its northeast Minneapolis taproom in October, though it will continue brewing beer at a production facility in Maple Lake, Minn.

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Mathew Holding Eagle III

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After nearly nine years at Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis, Eastlake Craft Brewery announced this week it will be closing its doors permanently on Sept. 23. 

'End of an era': Eastlake Craft Brewery in Minneapolis announces closure

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