Red White & Brew Brewery in Audubon Sets Last Day Open

Red White & Brew brewery in Audubon NJ announced in December they would be closing early 2025, and now they have set their last day open to the public as Sunday February 16^th.

The brewery is closing out their 6-year run with an evening Burlesque and Drag show called ”The Last Sip”. Cost for that event is $20 and requires reserving a spot at the Eventbrite website. The sub-title for the event… A Final Farewell to Red White & Brew

Final weekend details are still being “brewed” so follow along at Facebook for the latest.

I chatted with co-owner Chris Baumann this afternoon who says for the next two weeks until that last public event, it’s business-as-usual with their Wed-Sunday operating schedule. (full hours at bottom of article, or check their website).

News of the closing was initially announced in early December when first reported by local news website NJPen (Paywall). The next day Red White & Brew posted on their social media channels a Thank You to all of their customers for supporting them over the years. (Facebook)

The December announcement goes on to say how they will miss the brewery and their customers, with whom they’ve gained glimpses into each other’s lives over a pint of beer.

But there is a silver lining for the owners Chris and Erick. They both have growing young families including a 16-month old for Chris and his wife Kristina, and a new Spring baby on-the-way for Erik and his wife Danika… “We’re ready to turn our attention to our partners, our children, and the next chapters of our lives”

Chris tells 42Freeway that while he has no immediate plans for jumping back into the brewery business, he hopes one day when family life settles down there will be enough time to dedicate to family, career and more brewing efforts.

It seems a key part of the reason for the closure though is rising costs for operating the brewery, as well as it being a part-time effort for the two key partners who had to also balance “day jobs” with the brewery operations.

Additionally, the 101 year old bank building the brewery is located in was sold in December. Commercial real estate website Loopnet has the listing for the space, with a monthly rent set at $5,600. Called out in the listing are the basement area (storage) and a 1,700sf loft which overlooks the open core space. For specific details on what is included, please check with the NAI Mertz Real Estate Team (link in listing).

The building itself is a very distinctive space originally developed as the Audubon National Bank back in 1923! The brick building features a two-story open vaulted ceiling and tall arched windows… It really has been a perfect space for the brewery offering plenty of tasting room space for the bar, a variety of seating as well as an area for event performances.

Similar to most banks developed in the early 1900s, there is a smaller second level loft area that overlooks the open brewery floor… but that has not been used due to needed additional upgrades.

Red White & Brew Hours – From Their Facebook Page

Another possible downside to the closing of the brewery is the impact it will could have on the other businesses within the small downtown Audubon Merchant Street district… well unless another “destination” tenant signs on soon!

Red White & Brew and it’s location in the small retail district fit the core model that New Jersey was looking for when they approved breweries… where a destination brewery would act as a catalyst to bring people in to an area, who would shop at the local stores and more particularly… purchase food from the area restaurants.

Clearly the local Merchant Street restaurants have benefit from having Red White & Brew in the district, as customers enjoying a delicious cold beer in the tasting room would regularly order from, or dine at… the local eateries.

Last fall I stopped in at the new Champs Cheesesteak shop which is across the street from the brewery (at the end of the block), and owner Nick shared with me at the time how important the brewery is to the local businesses, with Champs even offering free “walk over” delivery to the brewery customers!

The Champs owner also mentioned how Red White & Brew was a key element to the variety of outdoor street festival events held on the block including the popular Audubon Third Friday Block Party where the brewery (and it’s delicious beer) was the cornerstone of the events.

While the Merchant Street district continues to thrive, this is the third recent loss for the commercial district (that I am aware of). Recently the popular LesbiVeggies location closed ahead of a reopening in Woodbury. Two years ago Smoke BBQ permanently closed citing increased food costs and a downturn in local traffic on the street.