Why Did Founders Detroit Taproom Abruptly Close For Good?

Founders Detroit is permanently closed.

Founders Brewing Co. Detroit Shuts Down

In 1997 co-founders Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers opened the first Founders Brewing Co. location in downtown Grand Rapids.

Founders opened its Detroit Taproom in late 2017. The brewery announced the closure of its Detroit location on Monday, May 1, 2023.

What is Founders Saying About the Closure of Detroit Taproom?

Founders Brewing Co. shared a post to Facebook, citing hardships due to the pandemic as the reason for the Detroit Taproom's closure.

The statement reads in full:

It is with great sadness that we announce that the Founders Detroit Taproom will be permanently closing its doors today.

Unfortunately, our Detroit location has not been immune to the struggle to regain foot traffic after temporary Covid closures that have impacted restaurants and bars across the nation. We are working diligently to find new positions within the company for employees impacted by this closure.

We would like to thank all of our loyal customers, Mug Clubbers, and friends for your support and business over the years. It has been a great pleasure to serve you.

Founders Brewing Closes in Detroit After New Racial Discrimination Claim

In 2019, Founders Brewing Detroit temporarily closed after an employee filed a racial discrimination claim. Founders later settled that case for an undisclosed amount.

According to Metro Detroit Times,  another former worker filed a new racial discrimination complaint against the company on Monday.

Metro Detroit Times reports,

According to the complaint, Naeemah Dillard, who is Black, worked at the Detroit taproom from June 2021 until April 2023, 'when the work environment became so objectively racially hostile that she had no choice to resign.'