After seven years in Marlborough, and 10 overall, Flying Dreams Brewing Company has announced it will pour its last beer later this month.
Brewery owner and founder Dave Richardson could not be reached for comment, but said in a Facebook post on Tuesday, Dec. 9, that the downtown brewery would close on Saturday, Dec. 27.
“It’s with much sadness, lots of fond memories and no little resistance to giving up or letting go, that we have reached a place, where it’s time to let go,” the post reads.
Flying Dreams was founded in 2015 in Worcester, originally located at Peppercorn’s Grille & Tavern on Park Street. In 2018, it opened a second location at 277 Main St. in Marlborough, taking a spot that was originally going to be Walden Woods Brewing Company before that business fell apart prior to opening.
At the time, Richardson said Marlborough was the perfect spot for a taproom.
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“It’s really a perfect marriage,” he said. “Marlborough was looking for something cool to come in and to help revitalize downtown, and we were looking for a taproom. Now it’s just a matter of making it our own space.”
In 2021, Flying Dreams closed its Worcester location.
'The numbers won't let us'
According to the Facebook post, the decision to close came down to “numbers.”
“We wanted to have a place where regular folks with regular lives could come together and have extraordinary conversations over great beer,” Richardson wrote. “Unfortunately, no matter how much fun it’s been and no matter all the wonderful people around us, keeping us going, keeping us laughing, the numbers won’t let us. And it sucks! For us that love providing good beer at THAT place, but also for all of you misfits and otherwise, who found THAT place, finally, where you could feel home-away-from-home.”
JP Gallagher, co-owner of Lost Shoe Brewing and Roasting Company on Weed Street in Marlborough, and head of the Massachusetts Brewers Guild, said the brewing industry has been on a down swing. He explained that beer fans who helped the local brewing industry boom 10 to 15 years ago are now older with families and going out less, while younger people are drinking less.
“Last year, we started seeing the same amount of breweries opening as closing,” said Gallagher. “This year, it’s a little better, but it’s a product of being in a mature market.”
Only two breweries will remain in Marlborough
With Flying Dreams closing, just two breweries will remain in Marlborough — Lost Shoe and Tackle Box Brewing Company, 416 Boston Post Road East (Route 20). At one point, there were four; Strange Brew closed in 2020.
“I don’t think it’s a Marlborough thing; it’s a a sign of times,” Gallagher said. “It’s the current state of the industry. We’re bummed. They’re (Flying Dreams employees) great people — they have great bartenders, and they have been great friends of ours. We’ve worked a lot of events with them. It’s just a bummer.”
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Flying Dreams will remain open during its normal hours until its closure.
Richardson, in his post, thanked everyone for making the business a reality for the past decade.
“Thank you all so much for being here for this amazing ride,” he wrote. “Again, make sure you come in and get your last Flying Dreams beers, impressions, conversations and hold them dear. Make us that ‘back-in-the-day place.’ When times were always better and people got together just to drink amazing beer. Don’t forget us because we sure as hell will always remember every one of you!”
Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or [email protected]. For up-to-date news, follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerJournalist.
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