BRADENTON, FL — A popular Bradenton brewery announced on Tuesday an abrupt, temporary closure through early 2027, with new owners taking over amid an ongoing foreclosure lawsuit.
"Effective today, Motorworks Brewing will temporarily close for an extensive remodel. We hope to reopen on February 1, 2027, under new ownership and new management, with a refreshed space and an exciting new chapter ahead," according to a post on the brewery's social media pages. "We look forward to welcoming you back as soon as possible."
Anyone hosting or participating in events at the brewery during the period it will be closed will hear from staff this week or can email social@motorworksbrewing.com, the post said.
Motorworks opened its brewery, taproom and large beer garden, known for hosting live music and other events, at 1014 9th Street West in 2014.
Owners Frank and Denise Tschida built the brewery in a 27,000-square-foot former Hudson Motors dealership, according to the company's website.
Related Stories:
"The building's iconic concrete ramp, high ceilings and industrial bones perfectly matched [Frank's] dream of creating a craft brewery," the website said. "Frank — a former race car driver — saw the space's automotive heritage as the ideal foundation. The name 'Motorworks,' the hood ornament logo and the innovative brewing spirit all trace back to this building."
Since opening, Motorworks has racked up dozens of awards across lagers, IPAs, stouts and specialty brews.
It was reported in May that Motorworks was facing eviction in a $1.9 million foreclosure case.
Seacoast National Bank, the plaintiff, filed the foreclosure lawsuit on May 21 across four loans borrowed by Motorworks Brewing LLC and Princess T LLC. The bank is seeking repayment of the loan's principal, interest and late fees, and also asked the court for a deficiency judgment and an order to sell the property and evict the brewery.
Despite this, Motoroworks announced in a statement on social media in early June that it is "here to stay."
"We want to take a moment to thank everyone for the incredible support, messages and encouragement over the past few days," the company said at the time. "We are happy to share that we are now current with the bank and working closely together to resolve the matter moving forward."
In May, Motorworks closed its Orlando tasting room after being served a five-day eviction notice.
The brewery operates taprooms on Harbour Islands in Tampa and at the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. It's uncertain how the closure of the Bradenton location will affect these spaces.
As of Tuesday afternoon, at least some staff at the Tampa taproom were unaware of the closure.
One worker told Patch that the staff there hadn't been told the news yet and only learned about the Bradenton closure during that phone call.
The Tampa taproom remained open on Tuesday as of 3:45 p.m.
When asked if it would be closing, the employee said, "I am not sure on that."
Patch has reached out to the management team at Motorworks for more information. This story will be updated when they respond.
See Also:
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Bradenton Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.