Kansas City-area brewery and taproom is closing. ‘Just really grateful’
There’s good news and bad news to Grains & Taps’ recent announcement on social media.
Bad news first: Grains & Taps is closing its taproom and brewery at 310 SW Blue Parkway in Lee’s Summit. Customers will no longer be able to come in for a beer and bite to eat.
The taproom’s last day will be Aug. 1.
But Grains & Taps will still be around. The home brewing supply store, which is currently attached to the brewery, will remain open.
Owner Brad Boehm told The Star that his store has enough interest to stay open.
“There’s definitely a community built around that, and it still has a big following,” Boehm said.
The taproom also announced in its closing statement that it was looking for someone to take over the supply store.
“If you have a passion for brewing or winemaking and have ever thought of owning your own business, we’re searching for the next owner or partner of Grains & Taps Home Brew Supply Store,” the taproom wrote.
While it’s hard to say goodbye to the brewery portion of the business, Boehm said he’s grateful for the connections he’s created and fostered.
“I’m so proud of what we’ve built,” he said. “There’s people that are friends now, and even families and marriages and things that those people wouldn’t have met if this didn’t exist.”
Thirteen years ago, Boehm and his longtime friend and business partner, Brian Bixby, started Grains & Taps out of a love for home brewing.
At the time, the pair found it difficult to acquire equipment in the Lee’s Summit area. So they opened their own shop in downtown Lee’s Summit at 10 SW Third St. Things went well enough that they were able to add another spot: the current Blue Parkway location.
Last year, however, Grains & Taps announced that it was closing the downtown Lee’s Summit spot and consolidating all operations to its other location. At the time, Boehm said economics, lease timing and a few other factors influenced the decision.
“It’s since grown beyond what we could ever imagine,” Boehm said in a recent interview. “It’s really sad that it’s run its lifecycle at this point. Just really grateful for everyone who’s been a part of this business.”
Alma Mader Brewing, meanwhile, is opening an expanded space in partnership with Korean restaurant Chingu. That new spot is targeted to open in the fall at 2617 Southwest Blvd.