F.H. Steinbart Homebrew Supply is For Sale including $400k inventory
“This is your chance to take over the first homebrew shop in America ” says a real estate listing calling it “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to carry forward a legacy while building something new.”
America’s oldest homebrewing supply shop is closing. The Portland, Oregon meeting place and influential shop F.H. Steinbart (234 SE 12th Ave, Portland, OR) has been around for 108 years inspiring hundreds of thousands of homebrewers many of whom have went pro. Beyond being an essential place for homebrewing, it has been the long-time meeting place of the Oregon Brew Crew and their draft beer department services and provides essential supplies and tools to commercial breweries, taprooms, and beer events. But according to a real estate listing there is a chance to save F.H. Steinbart, revitalize, or reimagine it.
The closure of F.H. Steinbart was announced by the company on social media and their newsletter on December 2nd, it was only somewhat unexpected as brick-and-mortar homebrew supply shops have been steadily declining for more than a decade. The Advent of online homebrew supply retailers peaked and then began to fade in 2016 with the sale of leading online store Northern Brewer selling to Anheuser-Busch. These days homebrewing equipment can be found on Amazon as well as all sorts of automated homebrewing gadgets aimed at turning the hobby into an easily approachable kitchen appliance-style gadget.
F. H. Steinbart was sold in August 2024 to Perfect Pour a draft installation and line cleaning company who were excited to refresh the homebrewing institution and have a home base for their core draft technician services. The sale followed the passing of longtime owner John DeBenedetti in 2021, and earlier the retirement of Mike Moscarelli in 2018 who had ran the draft department for 27 years and was considered a legend in the industry.
F.H.Steinbart and Perfect Pour owners James Ameeti and manager Mark Gillette didn’t reply to New School Beer’s inquiry about the status of both companies when we contacted them ahead of their public closure announcement. But responding to KGW news, Ameeti said ““Fewer people are picking up home brewing. The hobby takes time, space and effort and that makes it harder for brick-and-mortar shops to survive.” We have also read rumors and speculation on social media that the property was likely to be sold for high dollar for redevelopment, but that seems not to be the case.
A Loopnet.com listing says that F.H. Steinbart as a business and property may be acquired for $1,800,000 but that number is likely to drop if there is not a big name developer in the wings. There is no information on if the tradename is included in a sale, but the listing does advertise “a great opportunity to create a retail and wholesale fusion to continue to serve wholesale clients while creating a dining space with the large garage doors for indoor/outdoor seating.” The pricetag includes the entire 13,500 sq. ft. property and supposedly $400,000 + worth of inventory as well.
The large warehouse / retail / garage space with a retail storefront also has mezzanines, workshop areas, an office, community/meeting room, hallway with kitchenette and unfinished attic space “which is prime for a speakeasy conversion!” says the listing. “Whether you’re imagining a hybrid retail/wholesale hub, a brewery with indoor/outdoor dining, a maker space, or something Portland hasn’t seen yet - the possibilities are endless.”