Santa Maria Brewing Co. closing its last remaining location in Atascadero
Santa Maria Brewing Co. is closing its last location in Atascadero on Sunday after filing for bankruptcy two years ago.
In a post to his Facebook and Instagram pages, Byron Moles, who has owned the brewery with his wife Karen Moles for the past nine years, announced the closure, thanking the company’s supporters, family, friends and customers.
“As a company we’ve done everything we can the past year and a half to stay open and we’re just not able to continue,” Moles said.
In the post, he also asked that any frustration be directed at himself, not his employees.
“They deserve a better ending than what we’re giving them right now. And anybody that’s upset, please direct it at me because the buck starts and stops with me. And that’s where it should be directed.”
Santa Maria Brewing Company opened in 1994, when it was launched by Dan Hilker and Gary Ford. In 2013, Byron and Karen Moles purchased the brewery and partnered with Hilker to expand production.
In 2018, the brewery purchased Tap It Brewery during a year of expansion that saw it add locations in Paso Robles, Atascadero and Santa Maria.
However, In December 2020, Moles filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Moles also sent an email to those on his email list Saturday morning, apologizing for closing the brewery, but thanking those who have supported the business over the years.
“It’s with an extremely heavy heart that I am sending you this email,” Moles wrote. “I wanted to thank you for all your support and apologize that I was not able to find a way for us to get through our current conditions. ... Until we drink again. Cheers.”
In his social media announcements, Moles said he hoped that the community could join him for a drink before the location at 7935 San Luis Ave. closes permanently.
