I had a feeling things weren’t going well, but this comes as a shock.
Just received from Chris Leonard at General Lafayette Inn:
The General Lafayette Inn and its Guest House are in jeopardy of closing Stiff competition, limited resources, and the failing economy have contributed to a steady decline in revenues over the past 16 months. While beer sales have remained relatively stable, our food, wine and liquor sales have decreased to the point that we can longer maintain operations. Past due mortgages, property taxes, payroll taxes, and accounts payable to vendors have pushed the General to the precipice.Unless we raise significant funds in the next two months – to get current with our debtors, improve facilities, increase wholesale beer production, and increase our marketing efforts – closure is imminent.
While we have solicited sale of the General, no offers have come – understandable in this economic climate. Any offer we do receive will likely come from a party uninterested in the history of the General. It could become the next Wawa or CVS. Even more likely is that we will face foreclosure, allowing a developer to more easily acquire the properties and demolish the 5th oldest tavern in the country.
The General Lafayette Inn consists of two properties and three buildings. It’s most recent appraisal (2007) valued it at just under $2.2 million. We are a family owned operation. I, Brewmaster Christopher Leonard, am the majority owner. We desperately seek to avoid losing the General Lafayette Inn and the fate that would befall it if we do. So, we are soliciting equity investors to become silent (or not-so-silent) partners in this unique local treasure. Generally speaking, we are offering stock in the General Lafayette Inn for approximately 1% per $10,000. We will consider partners for as little as $5000. You would gain a small piece of history, pride in preserving the past, and a heck of a lot of delicious beer in return.
We are also starting a special “Friends of the General Lafayette Inn Society”. We are looking for up to 150 passionate local beer and/or history lovers with $1000 to invest in our past and good beer future. In return you will receive an annual $275 house account each of the next 5 years. This can be used for any goods or services. We will host an annual members-only event and dedicate the oldest portion of the building to the Society, displaying each member’s name.
In the meantime, know that operations at the General Lafayette Inn will continue as normal. We continue to produce new, innovative beers (look for a kriek soon). We have a new chef, Oliver Munguia. He has made some interesting changes including hand cut fries, house made pickles and has shown an attention to freshness, quality, and consistency that the General has lacked for some time.
Please contact me a by email or stop in to speak with me, for more details/information.We understand how untraditional and risky this approach is. However, we are steadfast in our belief that the General Lafayette Inn is worth it and willing to do just about anything to protect its future.
Very Truly Yours,
Christopher W. Leonard, Brewmaster/Proprietor
General Lafayette Inn & Brewery
Chris added this when I contacted him just now:
“Please be clear that we do not intend to close, do not want to close, are not currently being pressured to close, do not want to sell, etc… We continue to do everything possible to carry on. In fact, we’re bottling chocolate thunder today and just put out a fantastic new menu (should be up on our website soon). The bank has (so far) refused to restructure our debt, so we seek every option under the sun to get through this difficult time.”
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Jack,
Break out those coffee cans old man, you can’t take it with you! On a serious note, I hope they make out OK. I wish I had some money to give. We’ll have to get a group together and make the trek up there and support them.
Good Luck, Chris!
A tip to the management – Stop imposing cover charges every night of the week. It’s a serious detractor for a lot of people who would otherwise be hanging out there, eating, drinking, whatever. It’s not the kind of spot people really seek out to go watch bands. It’s a great atmosphere there, just with the homey interior, good food, good beer. Stop trying to double the place as a concert hall and sticking cover charges every night.
Also how about opening up the vintage beer lsit again and make bottles available? Currently, one bottle is for purchase depending on who you ask, and it’s $20 for 12oz. Steep.
I really hope the place pulls through, as I and many others like hanging there.
The cover charge is a township mandate. The $2 or $3 goes directly to pay amusement tax while the balance goes to the band. The perception that we retain any of the cover has been a struggle to overcome since day one.
It’s been our experience that when we do not offer live entertainment, our building is empty by 10pm. It seems to be a catch 22. Most bands don’t draw enough on their own and there aren’t enough folks like you who just want to chill out, eat and drink.
As far as the bottles go, we have cases of Abbey Blonde, Abbey Brune, and Chocolate Thunder at $2/bottle. The price of barley and hops has quadrupled in the past 2 years and we just can’t afford to make as many strong beers worthy of storing as Vintage Ales. The $20 price on the 275th Anniversary Ale is simply because it is so rare. Hopefully we’ll get the opportunity to make the Grim Reaper, Weizenheimer, Tripel, and Barleywines again in the near future and restock our supply of vintage ales.
I should note that we are certainly interested in all feedback and your frustration is appreciated. A clearer identity for the General Lafayette Inn is obviously in order. The main goal when I write we are soliciting funds to “improve facilities” and “increase our marketing efforts” is to address this issue.
Cheers and thanks to everyone for their support.
Christopher Leonard
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Hey Chris – thanks for your response. Though I did express a frustration I have with the Inn, I want you to know that I and many other people really love the place and will continue to support it!
While I am sorry to hear this historic place is in trouble,I have not been there for at least 5 years as the last time I was there the Bartender and other staff were asses. vAfter waiting for the bartender to finnish his conversation with a waitress for about 5 minutes, I ordered a beer and gave him a twenty. He took my money and went back to his conversation. Admittedly she was cute.After another 10 minutes I said something about my change. “OH ” he said No apology,nothing,just rung up my beer anf gave me my change. With the Ale house a mile down the pike and their great beef and pretty good beer selection I haven’t been back. I do hope things turn around though.
Tough to overcome that type of behavior… 5 years is a long time, though. And, there is no doubt I have long since fired that bartender…
Chris-I’m shure you have. I’m up in Pottstown,but when I get down to Conchy area I will definitely stop in for a pint or 2.
Man I am glad I am not in this business while that behavior by the bartender is annoying and unprofessional to label him and other staff an “ass” for being distracted one time at work and not returning for five years is a bit much. Funny how some people expect to be treated like Her Royal Highness for buying a 4 dollar beer. Dont take it so personally next time. I’d run out of places if I never went back after being ignored by a distracted bartender!
I live in N.J. but have been to the General Lafayette Inn about four times in the past couple years (though not since EB+B opened).
1. The Web site could not give a less accurate sense of the pub if it tried. It makes GL look like a quaint old B&B and/or banquet hall. I did not even think of going there for several years thinking I needed to wear more than shorts and a T-shirt.
2. The place needs a restaurant manager so bad. I had brought a friend to try to turn him into a customer. We went into the bar and over to the sunny side, where a bartender ignored us in favor of his friends. So we came back to the dark side and sat down in the first stools you see. A woman sitting on the other corner made a huffy show of moving her seemingly discarded newspaper from where we had sat, and glared. It was not the first time I felt a cold reception from other patrons, who both times seemed to feel as though their personal bar had been invaded. My friend, spooked, insisted we go sit at a table behind us …
3. … Where we waited for at least 5 minutes to get any service, as the other bartender polished glasses in the dark recesses of our side. My friend wanted to leave but I assured him it wasn’t usually like that. Eventually a nice server did turn up and we liked her, although we had to ask her for menus, and she seemed surprised each time we asked for another beer. And no, nobody ever came to sit with the surly woman so she wasn’t saving a seat.
When I go to brewpubs, I have become accustomed to seeing servers watch the level of beer in my glass and try to sell me another – which I view as a great partnership, personally. But GL is one of the few where, in my experience, the servers do not push the beer.
Obviously, I gave the place four tries so it wasn’t all bad. I enjoyed the beers and my wife liked the food and like so many reading this blog, I love supporting local brewers. When I sent e-mail inquiries, responses were immediate and personal. I want Chris to succeed but there is more competition than there ever has been. At Iron Hill, at Triumph, at EB+B (which has had service hiccups), all of which I frequent, there is a clear sense that someone is running the restaurant operation. Often at brewpubs I’m able to strike up conversations with other brewhounds. At GL I felt like I was an American tourist in France. You can’t control your customers? BS. Never been at another brewpub with customers like that, and I’ve been to dozens all over the country.
GL seems more like a homebrewer’s club where everyone kinda wishes you’d just serve yourself. Just one man’s opinion. Best of luck, I hope things turn around.
Well Jenny- I don’t expect to be treat like royalty. When I stopped in there was one person sitting at the bar and maybe 3 people at a table. If you saw the guys attitude you would probably label him an ass as well. Probably the main reason it’s been 5 years is I no longer live in that area. There are finally some beeter beer places around western Montco now like The Craft Ale House,Ortino’s,Pickering Creek,Union Jack’s and Sly Fox to name a few.
Cheers,
Steve Beppel
Yeah, true, I may have agreed with y ou if I was there in person but on paper it seemed rude and unprofessional but not necessarily a death sentence infraction.
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stopped in for the first time in 5 years on Thursday…no mead, no captain morgan, no belvidere…no customers. what goes around, comes around. oh, the new CVS will look nice.