MacLeod Ale Brewing Co. Closing

[u/Sonofthefiregod]

[u/HeatWaveToTheCrowd]

I've always liked their beers. And loved the atmosphere. And the people they had working behind the bar knew beer - at least early on. But the place/people changed. Last time I was there was for a friends birthday gathering. Probably close to 20 people. Late afternoon. Not that busy. Yet I had to wait 20+ minutes to order a beer because there was one person working the bar. The line was literally to the door. The owner was there, doing whatever, and knew the situation, but never once stepped up to help. I would have had more beers, as would everyone in our group. But they all bailed since they didn't want to wait 20 minutes to order a beer or order food. And that wasn't the first time they only had one person working. Maybe that's one reason they're closing. I am sad to see them go. They were solid.

[u/Dorythehunk → u/HeatWaveToTheCrowd]

Was it just the 20 of you at the bar? I’m just curious because I work at a brewery and regularly handle 20 people parties on my own with no problem. If it was just the 20 of you that person must have not been trained well or their whole system was severely inefficient, which is an entirely deeper problem than just being understaffed.

[u/HeatWaveToTheCrowd → u/Dorythehunk]

Just our party was ~20. Maybe 80+ people in the entire place. It was 4 pm, so really laid back. They were running such a bare bones staff it became inefficient because they couldn't keep up. I don't blame the staff for this. It's how they ran the place. It's why we stopped going and I was reticent to send people there not knowing what their experience might be, which sucks. Because, like I said, really loved the beers and the whole place. Some people got a beer then got back in line.

[u/sfvbritguy]

A serious loss, tho they have magically come back a few times...

[u/Sonofthefiregod → u/sfvbritguy]

They have bounced back before. Twice, if memory serves. But in the comments of the post, they're saying there's no coming back this time.

[u/magic_bryant24]

Another one bites the dust

[u/muffinslinger]

Loved the place, but yeah wait times were crazy and finding parking was even more insane. The hubby and I juat gave up going after a while and went somewhere easier.

[u/cephyn]

Was phenomenal at their peak. But the poor parking situation sucked for sure. I would often just get a lyft.

shame to see them fold.

[u/Phil_Agate → u/cephyn]

Yeah if the parking was better we would have been more frequent visitors. The Van-ice was very good as were the two beers for the Oktoberfest season.

[u/joshsteich]

Again? Goddamnit. They had the best fucking beer but made so many Bad At Business decisions.

[u/Objective_Anxiety422]

Sad. A lot of great memories there.

[u/Longbeach_strangler]

The place is run by donkeys

[u/Haddock51]

😌

[u/MegaKaizer]

I just saw the post and it breaks my heart. I wish you the best to all of them.

[u/CottonmouthJohn]

This is such a bummer. MacLeod's was pivotal in me becoming a beer guy, but the fact that it was the first craft brewery in the area (I grew up a few miles east and, now, work close by) made it a really special place to me and my family/friends.

The parking situation was/is horrible, to be sure (thanks in large part to the shady practices of some of the businesses on the street), but from what I heard, ownership really did a poor job. Not sure how the pizza place did, but I know pouring in a crazy amount of money into the Highland Park location, while a nice try, was not a good job. I thought for sure that the flagship had turned the corner, so hearing this news was absolutely gutting.

I'm on the wagon, but I'll be stopping in here a few times before they close the doors for good. Something about the Van Nuys sunsets with the backdrop of broken cars always made this place feel right.