Blue Blaze Brewing, which has been serving the West Charlotte area for the past eight years, is getting ready to close its doors for good at 528 S Turner Ave.
Managing partner Craig Nunn recently sent customers a letter announcing that the brewery will have its last day at the end of Stewart Creek Greenway the weekend of March 8-10. The devastating news comes less than two years after the company fought to avoid being evicted after facing a potential rent increase of 376% from its landlord, Atlanta-based Portman Holdings. Despite the sad news, the owners are hopeful the concept could land in a different location later.
“Our sincerest hope is that we can find a solution and a path forward in a new location and temporarily contract brew with one of our brewery friends in town,” according to the letter sent out to the brewery’s customers. “The search for these solutions to our challenges has and will continue in earnest. However, for now, we must unfortunately part ways from our current taproom.”
When Portman Holdings began redeveloping the historic Savona Mill, including the brewery site, in 2022, there were concerns that Blue Blaze Brewing wouldn’t last the change, especially with the rent increase. Now, the owners have decided to close the restaurant officially and will hopefully relaunch the concept in another area where a high rent cost won’t affect operations.
“We’ve completed this thru-hike, and now we’ll move on to our next thru- on another long trail and hope you’ll join us,” the letter continues. “For now, we raise our glasses one last time, we raise a toast to you, our tramily, for your friendship, your loyalty, and your unwavering support. While this may be the end of this trail, we look forward to seeing where our adventures take us next. Thank you so much for being a part of our brewing tramily and for sharing in the love of the outdoors and craft beer with us. It has been my honor.”
