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The Butcher & the Brewer to close

    by Michael Klein
    Published 

Odd, Doc Watson's Pub operated at 216 S. 11th St. for nearly 30 years. (Well, minus a spell seven years ago when management packed the upstairs with underage drinkers.)

The latest bar at that address will last 51 days - Sept. 28 to Nov. 17.

Saturday is last call at The Butcher & the Brewer. Before that, also under B&B owners Matt and Colleen Swartz, it was The Boilermaker for six months.

The Swartzes (as Grainery Restaurant Group) announced Thursday evening that "due to the unforeseen sale of the building," the restaurant will close. Staff will be absorbed "into other ventures" - presumably The Farmer's Cabinet, their bar at 1111 Walnut St. Before the Swartzes took over the building, it was Blue Bear Tavern for less than six months.

I heard that the building was indeed sold a month ago. One explanation for the impending closing could be that the liquor license is listed in LCB records as inactive.

And so is the license at the Farmer's Cabinet, for that matter (screen-grabbed below from the LCB's website).

Update: Matt Swartz says he has a letter of authorization from the LCB, but the LCB says Grainery has not filed its renewal and is not authorized to operate.