A local brewery said Gov. Tim Walz’s actions have caused “unnecessary financial hardship” when announcing its permanent closure Tuesday.
Wayzata Brew Works on Lake Minnetonka announced that it is closing its doors effective immediately after five years of being in business. The brewery noted that it never had any COVID-19 cases traced back to its establishment.
“Wayzata Brew Works opened in April 2015, [and] almost instantly became well known for the view of Lake Minnetonka, live music, exceptional craft beer and great pizzas,” the company said in a press release.
“After enduring the spring shutdown, imposed by the governor, and then managing through the governor’s mandated reduction of capacity during our most profitable part of the year on Lake Minnetonka, we are now faced with a second shutdown imposed by Gov. Walz, a shutdown that doesn’t involve any sustainable relief from the governor in order to help alleviate the economic calamity brought to our industry as a result of his decision,” the statement continued.
Brew Works said it has “many thoughts” on Walz’s actions, but summed them up with this: “Until the governor and others making the decisions around shutdowns and restrictions are personally financially affected by those decisions, those decisions will continue to cause unnecessary financial hardship.”
Under an executive order issued last month, bars and restaurants are required to close for in-person service until at least Dec. 18.
Some bars and restaurants are urging state officials to allow for the sale of premade cocktails with to-go orders to help increase profits. Takeout beer and wine sales are already permitted, but only with a food order and in limited, pre-packaged quantities. Gov. Walz outlined a relief package for struggling businesses during a late November press conference. Negotiations with legislative leaders on the details of the package remain ongoing.
Anthony Gockowski
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.
