Black-owned Durham taproom closes, citing ‘ongoing challenges.’ What to know
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- Proximity Brewing closed Durham taproom, citing “ongoing challenges” and high costs.
- Brewery will continue brewing and stay active with wholesale partners during “reset.”
- Taproom shutdown comes after several recent taproom closures in the Triangle.
Less than three years after it opened, Durham’s only Black-owned brewery has shut down its taproom.
East Durham’s Proximity Brewing, founded by Blacktoberfest co-creator Mike Potter, closed the Driver Street taproom as of Thursday, March 26, the brewery shared in a social media post. The decision was made amid “ongoing challenges and the realities of high operating costs,” as a way to help the brewery become more sustainable, Proximity wrote.
“This is a reset, not an ending,” the brewery said in the post. “We’re committed to returning stronger, more focused, and ready to continue creating great beer and meaningful experiences.”
Proximity Brewing hinted that a new taproom could open in the future.
“We will continue brewing and remain active with our wholesale partners, ensuring that you can still find and enjoy our beer in the community,” Proximity wrote in the social media post. “During this time, we’ll be taking a step back to thoughtfully reconfigure our business model and explore opportunities for a new location that better aligns with our long-term vision.”
When Proximity Brewing opened at 491 S. Driver St. in December 2023, it joined a group of other Black-owned restaurants and bars in East Durham, including Congress Social Bar and Mike D’s BBQ. The barbecue joint has since closed and is now home to Dame’s Chicken and Waffles, which moved from downtown Durham last year.
Triangle breweries close taprooms
Proximity is at least the second Durham brewery to shut down a taproom in recent weeks.
Flying Bull Beer Company closed its original Ninth Street taproom in late February, though the brewery still has the large brewing and restaurant space on Morris Street in Downtown Durham’s Innovation District.
Durham breweries are not the only ones in the Triangle to have closed in the past year. Vicious Fishes closed its Apex and Fuquay-Varina locations. Cotton House Craft Brewers in Cary marked its last day in November, and Pittsboro’s Havoc Brewing announced its closure in December.
The News & Observer’s Drew Jackson contributed reporting.
