Popular Oregon brewery Rogue Ales is closing its locations due to struggling sales and a massive amount of debt. Rogue’s representatives met with city officials on Friday to announce their decision to close the business, Oregon Live reported.
How much does Rogue Ales owe to the city of Newport?
Rogue Ales, which has operated in Newport, Oregon, since 1989, now owes more than $500,000 in rent to the Port of Newport, according to Oregon Live. The business has been renting its 47,000-square-foot location from the Port to house its brewery, warehouse and restaurant.
In addition to the $545,000 it owes to the Port of Newport, Rogue Ales also owes $21,738 to Lincoln County, per KATU 2.
A spokesperson for the Port of Newport told the news station that the brewery “had a hard time catching up and were just not able to make a comeback” as sales declined.
“My understanding is that Rogue, along with most breweries, have been struggling since COVID,” Port of Newport’s Executive Director Paula Miranda said, per KATU 2. “Since their main brewery is here in Newport, they will shut down all their operations everywhere.”
According to the Port of Newport Commission meeting agenda from Oct. 28, Rogue Ales was trying to pay $25,000 per month to the city.
What is the public reaction to Rogue Ales closing down?
Ash Berryhill, a customer who frequented the brewery, is among the many people who were shocked to find that the business is closed.
“I had no idea that they were in trouble, and I’m super bummed,” Berryhill told KATU 2. “It’s one of the many things in the neighborhood that’s just like, closed super abruptly.”
Local employees who work at some of the shops that carry Rogue products also reacted to the news.
“It’s kind of like taking down a large giant,” Belmont Station sales associate Ryan Jax told KATU 2. “There were so many locations, they’re like worldwide available, and they’ve been around for forever.”
Some of the former employees from Rogue Ales went to social media on Friday and said they received a sudden message from the company, telling them all locations are closing. According to the employees, the company didn’t provide severance pay.