Scotty’s Bierwerks in Cape Coral marked its final night of operation, closing its doors after nine years of serving authentic German beer.
Many families who frequented the brewery felt they were not just losing a local favorite, but saying goodbye to a second home.
Mary Bellman of Scotty’s Bierwerks said, “We are sending off Scotty’s with a bang. We are closing down today. This is our very last day open.” She added, “It’s been unbelievable, unbelievable turnout so far.”
Patrons lined up for hours to enjoy a last beer and reminisce about the community built at Scotty’s. Sarah McKee, a long-time patron, said, “I didn’t believe it, I thought they were playing a joke on us.” She continued, “The best part is we made a lot of friends. Our daughters just blossomed, came out of their comfort zone… getting everybody just happy to be here.”
Evelyn McKee expressed her sentiment, saying, “I love Scotty’s. I want them to stay open forever.”
Bellman explained the closure, “Our owner is retiring. Unfortunately, as much as we really wanted to move forward with our buyer, the brand new lease is astronomically high.”
Vanessa Franco, who ran a pop-up stand at Scotty’s, said, “Scotty has become, like I said, one of the first girls that gave us opportunity, we became friends, we became family with all of them.”
Jeff, another patron, shared personal memories, “We were looking at photos earlier, our oldest learning to walk here. We’ve announced the pregnancy to my parents here.” He added, “You could go to hang out with other people that was family-friendly, and really just the best beer in the area.”
As the taps shut off for good, many in attendance reflected on the memories made at Scotty’s Bierwerks, which will endure long after its doors have closed.