USA, CA: Main Street Brewery to shutter for good after nearly three decades in business

A downtown Pleasanton staple is closing up shop later this month after serving the community for nearly three decades, marking the second recent business closure on Main Street with Starbucks making its exit back in July, Pleasanton Weekly reported on September 2.

Matt Billings, owner of Main Street Brewery, said that after 30 years, he and his wife — Sharon Billings — felt like it was time to move on to the next chapter of their lives, which is why they decided to close the brewery on Sept. 21.

“The time has come,” Billings said regarding the closure.

First established in 1996, the downtown pub and restaurant is one of the last remaining places on Main Street reminiscent of a dive bar. Walking through the front entrance, patrons are greeted by the makeshift stage and an old-school bar filled with regular customers and folks looking to enjoy some cold drinks and food.

Since its establishment, Billings said the brewery — located on the north end of downtown at 830 Main St. — has become a popular destination for many members of the community. He said he and his team are honored to have served all of those families, which makes the announcement of the closure that much more bittersweet.

“We’ve made a lot of friends over the years,” he said. “So much has gone on in the last 30 years so it’s a difficult decision.”

He also said it’s been a difficult time for the customers who have been filling up the brewery to try and support the business during its last few weeks of operations. He said he appreciates the support he has received from longtime patrons expressing how much the establishment meant to them on social media in recent days.

“There’s a lot of emotions going on,” Billings said. “I appreciate the support over the years. Especially the heartfelt (comments) these past couple of weeks. It’s been pretty amazing.”

That outpouring of support was reflected in the hundreds of likes and comments on an Aug. 29 Facebook post announcing the owners’ plans to close this month.

Billings said he plans on sending the brewery off in style with football Sunday on Sept. 21, along with an evening matinee featuring live music from the Cocktail Monkeys, a local Bay Area band that plays a wide range of music that covers classic rock, modern pop and rhythm and blues.

Billings noted that this closure does not signify retirement; however, he doesn’t have any immediate plans for what the next endeavor will be.

“I wish I could say I had some but it’ll be recovery time for a few minutes,” he said. “It’s a step into the next adventure.”

The Main Street Brewery closure is the latest prominent downtown business closure following the departure of Starbucks, which closed its location at 511 Main St. in July.