Triple Taproom closes on Milwaukee's east side; employees say they were 'blindsided'

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — For the last year, the former Hacienda Beer Co. space has been the Triple Taproom and Kitchen - housing beers from Hacienda, Door County Brewing Co. and 3 Sheeps.

Now, the space joins a growing list of taproom closures in Milwaukee.

"All of the staff just received a message saying we were closed, effective immediately," said Angela Hansen, who worked as a bartender at Triple Taproom.

She was shocked to learn Monday that she was out of a job - after just working the bar the night prior.

"I definitely wasn't happy about it. Kind of, a little distraught to be honest," Hansen explained.

She tells us that she and her coworkers were blindsided.

"There were supposedly new menu items in place, there were cocktails we were meant to be switching out, there were events that were on the schedule," she said.

Triple Taproom was operated by Door County Brewing, who owns Hacienda Beer Co., and 3 Sheeps out of Sheboygan, joined the space last summer.

The founder and brewmaster at 3 Sheeps, Grant Pauly, said the closure was a very quick decision by Door County Brewing - but he wasn't surprised.

 "It's tough to put effort in and just not see the return on it," he explained.

The concept of Triple Taproom was meant to revive Hacienda's space after COVID hurt business. But with recent rising costs, Pauly said sales weren't good enough to stay afloat. 

"I think it's just, people are choosing different ways to spend money," he said. "Everyone is a little nervous about how much money they have, and how much everything else costs."

Hansen knows that well, having worked at Milwaukee Brewing Company, Fuel Cafe, and Mobcraft - all now closed.

With Triple Taproom, though, she is most upset that she couldn't say goodbye.

"It's just sad. It's not right. I don't know why places keep doing this sort of thing," Hansen said. "We are human, you know?"

The business posted a statement on Instagram with comments disabled:

While 3 Sheeps and Door County have other taproom locations, this was the Hacienda brand's only space.

Ownership from Triple Taproom, Door County Brewing Co., and Hacienda Beer Co. did not respond to requests for comment on the closure.