No more food service at Bank Street Brewhouse

[Robin Garr]

Well, hecky-durn.

Changes coming at NABC’s Bank Street Brewhouse.

“You could knock me over with a feather, because it turns out that the numbers don’t lie, after all.”
--NABC co-owner Roger A. Baylor

Effective Tuesday, May 13, the New Albanian Brewing Company will indefinitely suspend food service at Bank Street Brewhouse, its downtown New Albany location.

NABC’s brewing operation and our original location at the Pizzeria & Public House are entirely unaffected by these changes.

In the days to follow, we’ll remain open for business (exact schedule TBA) for “beers only” while planning, painting and remodeling, and BSB will continue to regularly function as the brewery’s downtown New Albany taproom – altered yet ongoing. Beer-only hours for the next three days, Tuesday - Thursday, will be 3 pm - 9 pm.

The future taproom format will include NABC beers served on site, and NABC beer for carry-out in growlers and 22-oz bomber bottles. We’re planning an expanded souvenir shop. There will be enhanced opportunities to use the facility as a venue and host for special events.

There may even be nibbles at some point, and we hope to play an ancillary role in animating food truck culture in New Albany, but we don’t intend to be a restaurant as before.

That phase has passed, for now.

Long live the many fond memories.

We had a great five-year run at BSB, and did our bit to shepherd the process of revitalization in downtown New Albany. We actually accomplished many of our aesthetic and ideological goals, but now we need to indulge in some updating and reinvention of our own, because the targets have moved and the competitive climate always is changing -- as it pertains both to the food and drink scene in downtown New Albany, and the market for better beer at home and in the world outside.

We must change along with the rest, and so we will. We intend to remain part of the downtown fabric, just differently than before. It’s a reinvention, not a departure.

Profuse and sincere thanks to everyone who supported the founding BSB concept, whether employee or customer. We are grateful.

Rock on.

Roger Baylor
Kate Lewison
Amy Baylor

Thanks for posting, Robin. Here's a Fb comment I made today. We'll be following and adding local embellishments to the taproom model with which most folks are now familiar. It might take a while, but we're still brewing beer, drinking beer and selling what's left. The Floyd County Health Department has been hard on the concept of food trucks, but I suspect this will change as opportunities arise for entrepreneurs to get in.

I understand and share the disappointment expressed by many as news of our change in direction at Bank Street Brewhouse gets around. At the same time, for us it's an exciting opportunity to think outside the boundaries and re-format our beer brands with place and community. We all want food to be a part of it, just not like before, because what we were doing before, while good, was unsustainable. Now, the sky's the limit: Carry-in, or themed catering, or eventually food trucks; maybe even snacks (only) again from our own kitchen, some day. I appreciate the many constructive comments. Keep 'em coming, and thanks. We're open, serving beers, and planning.

I'd love to see food trucks on a regular basis. I don't think many of the trucks that operate in Louisville are licensed in Indiana. Hopefully this will spark some interest in that.