A newly opened Lancaster County brewery could be closing its doors after just two weeks of being in business.
“ It’s hard. It’s our kids tuition money for two kids. It’s our mortgage. No bank would give a first time business owner a loan,” says Karen Boyer
Karen and Mike Boyar have put their hopes and dreams into the Zuckfultzfus Brewery. Every chair, table, and coat of paint has been hand crafted by them.
“ I know where every piece of wood came from every trip to home depot. Sometimes twice a day,” says Michael Boyer
The vision is to build a small, cozy, brew pub in Mount Joy that seats around 30 people. They started the process of licensing in January and have every license they need but one, the Brew Pub License. That license means they can sell beer but it can’t be consumed. The reason they don’t have it? Their neighbors sent a petition to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board concerned about parking. And that’s all it took to stop the PLCB from granting a license to the Boyers. We tried knocking on those neighbors doors, and they kept them closed. Just as the Boyers are fighting to keep their doors open for business.
The next step is for the Boyers is to have a hearing with the PLCB. That process will take about 4 months.