Oregon City’s 12 Bridge Ciderworks is For Sale Pending Closure
12 Bridge Ciderworks, that helped start Oregon City’s craft beer and cider resurgence, is looking for a new owner, business partner, or interested party to transform the space. Military veteran Jeff Jarrett opened 12 Bridge Ciderworks in 2017 with original, common and uncommon cider flavors inspired by the bridges along the Willamette River. Updated 6/19/2023: 12 Bridge Ciderworks is closing with a party on on Sat. June 24th.
“It is with much sadness, that I have come to the realization, conclusion and decision that it is time for me to move on from the efforts of 12 Bridge,” wrote Jeff Jarrett in a heartfelt letter to his taprooms mug club members called the Stubbs Club. “I love this industry, I love the process of making what I feel is some really great cider and I love being around so many cool and interesting people (customers and industry folks) and that’s what has driven me to press on during the last 3 years, despite all the challenges that have continued to take a toll.”
Jeff Jarrett and wife Melissa
Jarrett broke his foot in a 2019 accident, he’s been walking around in some sort of leg brace ever since. What should have been a serious but not totally life-changing injury, has turned into a 4+ year saga for a leg that just won’t heal because he can’t get off it. The same year the accident happened, 12 Bridge Ciderworks was gaining steam and Jarrett believed momentum would carry them into 2020 becoming their breakout year. We all know what happened in Spring of 2020 that put those plans on hold before straight up destroying them and making the business of craft beverages difficult to support. The ongoing struggles of the pandemic crunched the bottom line and knocked just about every business owner back down to the ground level, and Jarrett found himself unable to take a break and get off that leg. Not only as operations head at 12 Bridges, but he never gave up his day job either as VP of Operations/CIO at ZRT Laboratory in Beaverton, Oregon.
“Unfortunately, survival mode is where things have stayed for the last 3 years with the craft industry and restaurant/service industry being very slow to recover. Unfortunately, this seems to be the year where these challenges are catching up to many in the craft industry,” says Jarrett, referencing the recent permanent closure of Alter Ego Cider and Sasquatch Brewing’s New West Cider. But ultimately it is the cost on his quality of life stemming from the broken foot that pushed them into making this difficult decision. “I need to be able to walk the neighborhood with my wife again and to do that, I need to get some amount of my health back and continuing 12 Bridge just lessens my chances at ever being to do that,” says Jarrett.
For 12 Bridge Ciderworks there is some possible upside and a light at the end of the tunnel. Their current lease ends after June of 2023 and they will continue operation until then while looking for a buyer or investment partner that would take the reins of the brand. Jarrett see’s four options for him and the cidery; #1 find an investment partner that would allow him to offload the physical work and step back as a co-owner. #2 Finding a buyer who would want to take on the entire business, keep the brand, cidery, taproom alive, and Jarrett would help in the transition. #3 Find someone interested in opening more of a full bar/taproom and kitchen in the same space which the landlord says they will help cover the cost of with a new lease. #4 closing the entire business including the taproom and the cider brand and selling off the equipment, which is the least desirable of the options.
“Over the next 90 days, we’ll continue to look for the best possible outcome that keeps 12 Bridge alive and a place where we can all spend time together. At minimum, we are going to enjoy the hell out of these last few months, if that’s what we got,” says Jarrett in closing.
Update 6/19/2023: It’s official, June 25th will be 12 Bridge Ciderworks last day of operation but they are going out with a bang on Saturday, June 24th. 12 Bridge will open at 2pm and kickoff the official Final Countdown Party at 5pm until midnight. The cideries 14 ciders taps will be full , plus another 6 beer taps flowing too. In addition to drinks, they have The Tiffany Carlson Band playing from 5-6:30pm, and Fold The Wagon playing from 7-10pm. Food will be available from Smokin John's BBQ from 5-9pm, and the last and final lighting of the fire pit (at dusk). The taproom will open again on Sunday to clear out any remaining beer and cider they have left for their final day in business.
12 Bridge Ciderworks, 19376 Molalla Ave #130, Oregon City, OR 97045
Inquiries jeff (at) 12bridgeciderworks.com