EMBRUN, ON – A week after it was reported that its building in the Eastern Ontario village of Embrun had been sold to another local business, Brasserie Étienne Brûlé has officially closed its doors.
In a statement posted to social media along with a short video on Monday evening, brewery owner Richard Ménard wrote the following:
With a sad, heavy, and broken heart, we must inform all our customers and employees that we must close Brasserie Étienne Brûlé Brewery today. There are many reasons, circumstances, people, and politicians we could blame and so many excuses, regrets, and things we should have done. However, the truth is that it will not change the outcome.
The statement goes on to thank all of the brewery’s “customers, collaborators, musicians, event organizers, and supporters,” and apologizes to the employees who have lost their jobs due to the closure.
As reported here on CBN last week, Étienne Brûlé opened in 2016 in a former fire hall owned by Russell Township with a five year lease that ended in 2021. Ménard hoped to purchase the building at that time, but negotiations with the Township were unsuccessful, and the brewery remained open on a month-to-month basis while the building was on the market.
It was finally sold earlier this month to Robin Wheatley, who plans to move her Homestead Pub from elsewhere in Embrun into the building later this year.
While obviously disappointed that his own business has closed, told Radio-Canada that he is “happy that the establishment will continue to operate as a restaurant, offering our residents a place to meet and socialize over a drink or a meal.”
Source: Radio-Canada
Photo: Brasserie Étienne Brûlé