After more than 30 years in business, Pyramid Brewing Co. parent company FIFCO USA announced last week that it will permanently close Pyramid Alehouse in Seattle, Washington. The company notified staff Thursday, April 30th, offering severance pay to help with their transition.

The state’s bar and restaurant closures due to COVID-19 have led to business decline, “creating insurmountable business challenges for the Alehouse to continue to operate,” according to a press release. Located in Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood, Pyramid Alehouse relied on sporting and entertainment events to bring customers to the neighborhood and support its business during “non-peak” times, according to Rich Andrews, CEO of FIFCO USA. The taproom is located across the street from the Seattle Mariners’ Safeco Field and a block from the Seattle Seahawks’ CenturyLink Field.

“This location has provided strong visibility for Pyramid beer in the great city of Seattle over the years,” said Andrews in a press release. “Our Alehouse business has become increasingly difficult to operate. The current environment will make it even harder.”

Pyramid beer will still be available for purchase at its retail accounts throughout the Pacific Northwest, and its beers will be brewed in Oregon’s Portland Brewery.

“Since we opened the Alehouse over 30 years ago, we have had wonderful customers and excellent employees who have been strong ambassadors for Pyramid,” said Bruce Kehe, brand director, Pyramid Brewing Co. “On behalf of our brewery, we want to thank them for their support as we shift our full attention to making great beer.”

The brewery’s production volumes have steadily decreased over the past several years, down 10% in 2018 to 54,000, according to not-for-profit trade group the Brewers Association.

In 2012, Pyramid parent company North American Breweries was acquired by Cerveceria Costa Rica, which is a unit of the Costa Rican company Florida Ice & Farm Co (FIFCO).

Pyramid’s Sacramento location closed in 2013 due to a “declining economic climate.”

Its Berkeley, California location closed in 2015, part of a “company-wide strategy focused on consolidating production at its Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington facilities,” according to a press statement.

And its Walnut Creek, California location closed in 2016 for the same reason.