In comments below, Green Dragon owner Ed Schwartz gives a thorough debrief of the final days of the pre-Rogue era.
Yes it is true that I will no longer be the owner of the Green Dragon. While I am bummed out it didn?t work out with me as owner ?I am grateful to Rogue for stepping in and doing the things that we could not. The city is requiring the building to be sprinkled, doors to be inset, walls to be built separating the brewery. They have additionally tacked on over 51k in CBC fees. Completing the brewery should take another 50k or so. The building has to be sprinkled by February in order to stay open. Lolo and I don?t have the resources to do this?the consequences being that everyone would lose their favorite watering hole, and several employees would lose their jobs?..which is why I began talking to Rogue. Viewing them as the enemy is silly?they are doing Portland and Green Dragon customers a favor by keeping this institution alive. I?d give them a break and see how things develop ?their reasons for stepping in, as I understand it, are that they too fell in love with the Dragon and want to take what we started (19 rotating taps etc., meet the brewers nights, etc) and run with it.
I think emotions run high due to our feelings for the Green Dragon. Mine certainly are as well. In my dealings with Rogue I have gotten a sense that their heart is in the right place on wanting to take care of the customers, employees (providing them with health insurance and matching 401k which I could not) and Founders Club ? If anybody has questions about anything?I?ll be in this Tuesday for Meet the Brewer and would be glad to answer any specific questions then.
Best to you,
Ed Schwartz
Green Dragon Brewpub
Thanks for the info, Ed. And best to you, too--
Original source: http://beervana.blogspot.com/2008/11/final-comments-on-green-dragon.html
