Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant was founded in 1988 by Dan Gordon and Dean Biersch with the goal of combining the quality and consistency of traditional European brewing with a casual dining experience. The brand quickly gained recognition for its handcrafted beers brewed on-site, such as its signature Edelweiss lager. Over the years, Gordon Biersch expanded across the United States, establishing itself as a leading brewery restaurant chain known for its innovative menu and authentic German-style beers. Committed to quality and craftmanship, the company strives to provide a unique and enjoyable experience that celebrates brewing traditions and culinary excellence.
News Summary
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant has closed after 13 years in downtown Louisville’s Fourth Street Live!. This marks a shift in the dining landscape as Goodwood Brewing plans to take over the space. The closures raise concerns about the area’s viability as a nightlife hub, but the new venture is hoped to revitalize the location with its brewery operations and a sports-bar atmosphere.
Louisville – Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant has permanently closed its doors after 13 years of operation at Fourth Street Live!, a prominent entertainment destination in downtown Louisville. The restaurant, known for its German-inspired cuisine and made-from-scratch California-style food, opened in 2012 and featured a sizable 500-seat capacity along with an on-site brewery.
As a result of this closure, Gordon Biersch now operates only one standalone restaurant, which is located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Besides that, the company maintains several locations within airports across the United States and in Taiwan. This recent shutdown follows the earlier departure of another restaurant in the area, Locos, a Latin-inspired venue that shut down in early 2025 due to low foot traffic. These closures have raised significant concerns regarding the future viability of Fourth Street Live! as a vibrant dining and nightlife hub in Louisville.
City officials and local business owners are closely monitoring developments in the area, particularly how it will recover and adapt in the post-pandemic landscape. The closures of notable restaurants like Gordon Biersch highlight shifting consumer behaviors and the challenges faced by dining establishments in downtown Louisville.
In a related economic shift, Goodwood Brewing & Spirits has announced plans to take over the former Gordon Biersch location. The brewery, which currently operates brewpubs in Frankfort, Lexington, and Indianapolis, aims to open its new establishment in the Arena District by February. Once opened, this location will be the largest in the Goodwood portfolio, boasting 13,400 square feet of indoor space and an additional 900 square feet outdoors.
The owner of Goodwood Brewing, Ted Mitzlaff, expressed enthusiasm for the new venue, citing Gordon Biersch’s previous success in attracting customers to the area. Goodwood is known for producing bourbon barrel-aged beers, a variety of ales, and traditional Southern dishes. The brewery plans to install a new kitchen and update audio equipment to create a more engaging sports-bar atmosphere for patrons at this new location.
In addition to expanding its brewery operations in Louisville, Goodwood Brewing is currently seeking state approval for plans to sell bourbon and rye whiskeys in Ohio. This move signifies the brewery’s ambition to broaden its market presence beyond its existing locations.
The closure of Gordon Biersch marks a significant shift for Fourth Street Live! and raises questions about the future of the district as a dining destination. The emergence of Goodwood Brewing presents a hopeful prospect for revitalizing the space previously occupied by Gordon Biersch, as it may attract both new and returning customers looking for a fresh dining experience. Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, local businesses appear determined to adapt and evolve in response to changing consumer preferences and market conditions.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Downtown Louisville Brewpub Closes After 13 Years
Additional Resources
- WDRB News
- Wikipedia: Louisville
- LEO Weekly
- Google Search: Gordon Biersch closure
- Dispatch
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Kentucky
- Brewbound
- Google News: Goodwood Brewing Louisville
Author: STAFF HERE MYRTLE BEACH
The HERE Myrtle Beach Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Myrtle Beach community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Myrtle Beach Our team includes lifelong Myrtle Beach residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent developments along the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach’s tourism and hospitality industry, and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Coastal Carolina University programs). Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
