Ballast Point to shutter restaurant

By Aila Boyd

aboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com

It was announced last week by Ballast Point and its owner, Constellation Brands, that the Constellation Brands facility in Daleville will be closing its restaurant and other front-end services at the end of the month.

The decision directly impacts 25 full- and part-time positions and 16 temporary employees. The production facility will remain in use.

“We regret to inform you that on September 29, the Daleville tasting room will be closing its doors. We’d like to take this opportunity to express a sincere thank you to the local Daleville community, its surrounding neighbors, and our team members for the support and dedication. What an unforgettable few years,” Ballast Point posted on its Facebook page last Tuesday.

County officials noted that the office of County Administration and the Department of Economic Development have reached out to the company and will continue to be in contact as the end of the month approaches. Cody Sexton, assistant to the county administrator, is seeking a meeting with Constellation Brands to discuss the tasting room closure.

“This move comes as a total surprise to the county and to the community,” said County Administrator Gary Larrowe. “Ballast Point has been a great corporate citizen and draw for visitors to the county, which makes this decision all the more impactful.”

Ballast Point established its restaurant and production facility in Botetourt County in 2016.

The production facility will continue to provide Ballast Point beers to East Coast markets. The Daleville production facility is noted as being a key location for Constellation Brands to manufacture these product lines as well as flavored malt beverages and hard seltzers distributed nationally.

“As seen throughout the beer industry, growth in craft beer is being driven largely by local brands. With that, we are appropriately reallocating Ballast Point investments to drive growth in core local markets. We thank the local Daleville community, its surrounding neighbors and our taproom employees for their support and dedication over past couple of years.  We will continue to make a positive impact to the local economy through the operation of the Daleville brewing facility, which represents a robust hub for Constellation’s future innovation in support of our specialty portfolio,” Albert Ubieta, vice president and association general counsel for Constellation Brands Craft and Specialty, the parent company of Ballast Point, said last Tuesday.