Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowBooks & Brews plans to close its south-side Indianapolis store this month, marking the latest closure announcement for the shrinking bookstore/taproom chain.
The South Indy store, 3808 Shelby St., will operate through Aug. 12 before closing permanently, operators announced Monday on social media.
“We have made the difficult decision to close … after 4 incredible years of serving you, our friends,” the announcement said. “COVID and road closures were just too much for us.”
In addition to the South Indy closure, the Books & Brews franchise in Zionsville is set to close when its lease expires on Sept. 30.
The two closures will leave Books & Brews with just two locations—its original flagship store near Interstate 69 and East 96th Street on Indianapolis’ northeast side and a franchise at 1551 N. Green St. in Brownsburg.
The chain had 10 in locations in 2019, but stores in Carmel, Broad Ripple, Mass Ave, Muncie, Noblesville and Oxford, Ohio, also have gone out of business.
The South Indy store plans to hold an auction on Aug. 13 from noon to 6 p.m. to sell remaining items and equipment.
Jason Wuerful launched Books & Brews in March 2014 as a family-friendly venue where visitors could relax, read books, get a locally-brewed beer on tap, play games or enjoy an appetizer. He began franchising locations in 2017.
Wuerful did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday morning.
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.
When all the chicken finger restaurants start closing in a couple years, are they still going to be blaming Covid?
Sorry to disappoint you but the the chicken finger restaurants are all national and have massive money behind them.
Joe, did you eat at Chi-Chi’s tonight, or decide to go with Bennigans?
Oof
When the BRip location closed I knew it was game over. That was a few years ago and before COVID if I remember… nothing against the business model. I went quite a few times. The beer was always AVERAGE at best. Nothing special.
Purchase of Flat 12 / eventual re-brand and closure of it also hit the pocket books too, I suspect.