It’s been a bad week for Manatee County brewery enthusiasts, as 3 Keys Brewing & Gastrobrew announced it would close, while Motorworks Brewing faces foreclosure from its Bradenton brewery and beer garden facility due to $1.9 million in outstanding loans.
3 Keys owners Gabe Schmitz and Tina Yeung announced on social media that this Sunday would be their final day of operation.
“Like so many small businesses, the continued slowdown in the economy has made it no longer possible for us to keep going,” the post read. “It is not the ending we envisioned, but we are at peace knowing we gave it everything we had and that you were with us every step of the way.”
In an article I wrote in 2024, I argued that 3 Keys had the best burger in Bradenton. With a full menu of inspired bar food favorites and delicious craft beers, its rustic Manatee Ave East location offered live music on the backyard stage. Other promotions, like "crafts and drafts" and "bingo and $1 wings," drew customers and fostered community.
3 Keys was founded in 2015. Schmitz and Yeung bought the brewery in 2019 and miraculously made it through COVID. Its demise is part of a broader trend affecting the industry. After a boom from 2000 to 2015, craft breweries have been suffering a heavy downturn that has coincided with post-COVID inflation. Most notably, in 2024, brewery closures began outpacing openings for the first time in roughly two decades.
With higher prices (and operating costs) than traditional beers, inflation has made their less expensive alternatives more attractive to beer drinkers. Meanwhile, younger generations are consistently drinking less alcohol and, because of inflation and having less purchasing power, are even less likely to select premium offerings that can cost twice as much as standard domestic beers.
Motorworks, which opened in 2014, was the first brewery in Bradenton (although a Hops Grillhouse & Brewery franchise brewed beer on site at its U.S. 41/Cortez Road location from 1993 through the early 2000s). In addition to its taproom, Motorworks has the largest beer garden in Florida, the centerpiece of which is a large deck built around what is perhaps the most enormous oak tree in town.
Like 3 Keys, the brewery hosts a wide range of entertainment, ranging from live music to stand-up comedy. The brewery has consistently been recognized with awards for its high-quality brews, which can be found in most major Florida markets.
According to court records, Seacoast National Bank is seeking approximately $1.9 million across four loans with the brewery and its associated LLCs. Seacoast is asking the court to order repayment of the loans, plus interest, a deficiency judgment, and an order forcing the sale of the property.
In related news, Tampa Bay Brewing Company announced on social media that it would shutter its Centro Ybor City brewery, announcing that this Sunday would also be its last day of operations after just under 30 years at the site. The Westchase facility will remain open, and TBBC beers will remain available at retail locations.
4 comments on this item
Only paid subscribers can comment
Please log in to comment by clicking here.
UteKegel
That's really sad. 3 Keys had great food and atmosphere and was pet friendly. Motorworks, with seating under the huge tree was kind of magical. And they both had great beer.
Friday, May 29 Report this
san.gander
Hate to be political, but sarcastic, hell yeah! It isn't Biden's fault now is it!
Friday, May 29 Report this
Mateo
3 Keys never repaired their awning after the 2024 hurricanes, which sort of suggested there was trouble afoot. A sad day regardless
Saturday, May 30 Report this
GoodTimes1
FLAMINGO BAY BREWING is a great family owned brewery with a nice Beer Garden. It's located near the SW Corner of the Village of the Arts at 1910 14th St W. In recent months they have been sponsoring great live music by national touring and award winning musicians. Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen provides the eats!
Tuesday, June 2 Report this