Tapped from pandemic struggles, Buffalo Township brewpub Cellar Works to close

It’s almost last call at Cellar Works Brewing Co. in Buffalo Township.

After more than seven years of business, the craft brewery will close Oct. 26. Members of the Cellar Society, an annual subscription that comes with discounts, presale priority on beer and more, are invited to a final party Oct. 27.

In a social media post Wednesday, owners John Lasher, Laura Lasher and Tim Bauer thanked the community and Cellar Society members for their support but said setbacks from the covid-19 pandemic were too much to overcome.

“After the pandemic, we could never really regain the traction we had in 2019, and our attempts to expand were poorly timed, to say the least,” the post read.

In 2019, the trio bought the former Cooper Station Restaurant in Winfield, turning it into a second brewpub and event space. State restaurant restrictions started in March 2020, with capacity limits and physical distancing requirements lasting well into 2021.

The Winfield location closed early last year. In an accompanying social media post, the owners again attributed the closure to covid.

Cellar Works also had taken a crack at running a taproom in Verona, but that ended in July.

Attempts to reach the owners were not immediately successful, but they did offer some additional words on social media.

“It’s impossible for anyone to understand how much we’ve sacrificed to make CWBCo exist,” they said. “Therein lies the silver lining. We now have an opportunity to step away from the stresses of operating a business to have more time to focus on our families.”

Before it closes for good, Cellar Works, located at 110 South Pike Road, will be open from 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.