USA, PA: Appalachian Brewing Company closes Harrisburg City brewpub after 28 years in business

Appalachian Brewing Company has closed its Harrisburg City brewpub after 28 years due to declining business, Pennlive.com reported on July 15.

Co-owner Artie Tafoya said the restaurant at 50 N. Cameron St. closed on July 12. The Abbey Bar will remain open for events and live music and the brewery will remain operational.

Tafoya stressed business in the city has dropped off since the COVID-19 pandemic as more state employees work from home.

“It’s a matter of the market right now,” he said. “It’s just another adaptation in our business life. If we’re not trying, we’re not going to have success in the future.“

Appalachian opened in 1997 in a renovated warehouse and was part of a regional craft beer boom.

Appalachian expanded with brewpubs in Lititz, Silver Spring Township, Carlisle and Gettysburg. Those locations remain open.

In its heyday, ABC’s Harrisburg brewpub was popular for business lunches, family dinners and events.

But in recent years, Tafoya said it became increasingly difficult to fill tables. He said they tried different approaches, such as shaving back hours and opening on weekends-only to no avail.

A few blocks from ABC, Harrisburg’s downtown has been marked by business closings and marred by graffiti since the pandemic that had thousands of state employees working from home.

Looking to the future, Tafoya said they will weigh their options and could consider reopening the brewpub or expanding beer production in the building.

He said the company’s other brewpubs, mostly in suburban areas, have rebounded from the pandemic faster than the Harrisburg location.

In an email, ABC informed its mug club members about the closing and opportunities to transfer their memberships to the brewery’s brewpubs in Silver Spring Township, Gettysburg, Carlisle and Lititz.

“This decision was incredibly difficult, and we know it comes as a disappointment to many—we feel it too,“ the email said. ”For decades, the Harrisburg community has welcomed us, and we’re deeply grateful for your support, loyalty, and the memories we’ve shared."

Tafoya said employees at the Harrisburg brewpub are being offered jobs at the company’s other locations.