Emotions run high as Mishawaka Brew Pub prepares to close

By Dustin Grove (grove@wsbt.com)

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Amanda Havens will lose her job at the Brew Pub in Mishawaka when it closes its doors after 16 years in business. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Dec 2, 2008 at 4:06 PM EST

Story Updated: Dec 2, 2008 at 5:36 PM EST

MISHAWAKA — At the Brew Pub in Mishawaka Tuesday morning, Amanda Havens was busily chopping mushrooms, preparing for lunch.

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“One of our biggest sellers is our bacon cheddar mushroom burger,” said Havens.

The problems is, they aren’t selling enough.

“Buiness has just plummeted,” said owner Tom Schmidt. “Normally we’d do $5,000 on a Saturday night. We did $900 last Saturday."

So after 16 years in business, Schmidt, his son, and a team of others worked to disassemble the brewery. It’s moving to the family’s other brewery operation in Elkhart to consolidate. The restaurant on Main Street is closing for good.

Schmidt attributed his decision to a number of factors including higher property taxes, a county smoking ban, and increasing competition up the street.

“When we opened, we were the only one on Main Street this side of Mishawaka,” said Schmidt. “Now you look up the street just at the next intersection, there are 10 restaurants clustered around.”

Many of those restaurants are part of national restaurant chains with much deeper pockets.

“We were able to kind of hang in there and infuse a little extra money into it to try and keep going but with this latest downturn, forget it,” said Schmidt.

Havens, who is a single mom, wiped away tears as she talked about leaving.

“I have a 7-year-old … she comes to work with me (sometimes) and that’s what’s nice about having a small company is they invite your kids and they’re welcome," she said.

She’ll apply for unemployment next week.

“The economy's so bad you don't know what's going to happen tomorrow," added Havens.

The Pub at Cleveland and Main Street is also owned by Mishawaka Brewing Company and will stay open.

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