My favorite LHBS is closing...

[Snuffy]

I don’t see how any LHBS expects to survive long-term w/o an e-commerce site. Or any other specialty store for that matter. I didn’t get into brewing with the idea I needed to do it as cheaply as possible. I will buy locally every chance I get - but how many times have you dropped into the LHBS with a recipe and they are out of this or that and you either substitute or go back online for the missing bits? Bless em for trying, but that’s gotta be a tough way to make the rent.

I would buy local and pay shipping if they would just post a current inventory list on a website and then let me email them a shopping list. Then email bill me to pay by Venmo or Paypal or just call me for the CC info before shipping it out.

 

[Steveruch]

I would buy local and pay shipping if they would just post a current inventory list on a website and then let me email them a shopping list. Then email bill me to pay by Venmo or Paypal or just call me for the CC info before shipping it out.

The homebrew shop that used to be in Fort Wayne closed before we moved here. There is a hardware store that has a homebrew section, but no listing of what they have. And they couldn't be bothered to answer an email query. So, I'll just keep ordering ingredients online.

 

[hout17]

I would buy local and pay shipping if they would just post a current inventory list on a website and then let me email them a shopping list. Then email bill me to pay by Venmo or Paypal or just call me for the CC info before shipping it out.

My LHBS doesn't ship but they have contracts to supply breweries and that keeps them afloat. They do have a good online presence though and anything you could ever want grain wise. I can go on their site order all of my ingredients and set a time to pay and pickup and they are pretty competitive price wise too.

There is another LHBS a little closer but they never have what I need in stock literally never. I want to support them too but they make it very hard. The owner is a nice guy too.

 

[NickTheGreat]

How sad. My favorite/only LHBS closed a few years ago. I don't do full bags, but have just started ordering online. And it's fine. Just not quite as fun as going to the store to stock up/ shoot the breeze.

 

[MaxStout]

I like to support local and am willing to pay a little more to do so. But that has limitations. I will not support a bad business, regardless of price, or one where I'm not treated fairly--whether it's an LHBS or any other type. The LHBS that closed near me was one of the very good ones and I miss it a lot. OTOH, I have been to a few others where either their ingredients were not very fresh, or they had poor selection, or the employees were just plain dicks. Or all three. Sometimes, a business is its own worst enemy.

Maybe some closed due mainly to online competition. But that's how many businesses are evolving and the pandemic probably sped up that change as more people ordered stuff from home.

But in many cases an LHBS just drove off its customers, and blaming online is an easy excuse. I've certainly heard plenty of bad LHBS stories on HBT over the years.

In any case, it's such a niche business that it's not economically viable by itself. The ones in small markets that still make it usually have some other business to backstop it, e.g., liquor store, grocery, hardware store.

It's sad to see the good ones close up, but some of the bad ones needed to go. Business is a Darwinian process.

 

[jtratcliff]

My closest LHBS just closed last month as well... I tried to shop there initially when I was getting started... Not the cheapest prices but a pretty good selection of grains and hops. Nice clean shop that was pleasant to be in... But about 80% of the guys at the counter (owner included) were just pompous dicks...

Only so much ass-hattery I could take before I finally said F-it... Morebeer delivers to my door in 1-2 days, for less $$, and I don't have to listen to dicks being dicks to everyone in the store. I would go once or twice a year if needed something that I didn't want to wait for, but I went from dropping $50-$80 every few months to only $10-20 maybe twice a year.

 

[DBhomebrew]

My LHBS is owned and operated by a super nice gentleman who opened as a weekend gig then retired into it full-time. I can't get imported grain at a better price, I've looked. Hops I don't know, haven't bothered looking. Yeast, prices on par with anywhere else and he puts in monthly or weekly group orders straight from the vendors.

I give him as much business as my small batches require. Plus all my oats, flours, etc.

 

[crazyjake19]

If we had a local homebrew shop I'd gladly give them my business even at a higher price. Unfortunately, the two closest shops are each an hour away in different directions, and I'm not one to drive much. I tend to order most things from MoreBeer or other online sources.

 

[oakbarn]

I like to support local and am willing to pay a little more to do so. But that has limitations. I will not support a bad business, regardless of price, or one where I'm not treated fairly--whether it's an LHBS or any other type. The LHBS that closed near me was one of the very good ones and I miss it a lot. OTOH, I have been to a few others where either their ingredients were not very fresh, or they had poor selection, or the employees were just plain dicks. Or all three. Sometimes, a business is its own worst enemy.

Maybe some closed due mainly to online competition. But that's how many businesses are evolving and the pandemic probably sped up that change as more people ordered stuff from home.

But in many cases an LHBS just drove off its customers, and blaming online is an easy excuse. I've certainly heard plenty of bad LHBS stories on HBT over the years.

In any case, it's such a niche business that it's not economically viable by itself. The ones in small markets that still make it usually have some other business to backstop it, e.g., liquor store, grocery, hardware store.

It's sad to see the good ones close up, but some of the bad ones needed to go. Business is a Darwinian process.

Exactly. I used to drive 30 miles to pick up my supplies at a LHBS. Another one opened 7 miles away. I tried it but their grain mill was a "home" version driving by a drill. They expected you to do the milling with that hand drill which I cannot do and the gap was terrible (and they would not adjust). They lacked different grains and hops, and had a take it or leave attitude. They had off brands of things. In addition, their prices were maybe 30% more than the other store. I tried them 3 times before I gave them up.