Bill’s Front Porch closes, will re-open as taproom to support growing brewery – Port City Daily

Citing a shift to its brewing operations and ongoing construction on Market Street, Bills Front Porch has closed its doors. Its owners plan to convert the space into a taproom and event space. (Port City Daily photo/Mark Darrough)

WILMINGTON After a nearly four-year run on Market Street, Bills Front Porch has announced it will close and convert the building into a full-time taproom and event space for the companys growing brewing operations.

The brewpup part of a Bills campus that includes Captn Bills Backyard Grill, a large sand volleyball court complex, and a new brewing production facility announced the decision Tuesday morning on its Facebook page. A new taproom is expected to open inside the building on March 17.

Bills is a family-run business, owned by John Musser and his daughter Brookes Musser, whose husband Donnie Stone helps run the brewerys operations with head brewer Jim Deaton.

The decision was based on two years of construction on Market Street that hurt customers ability to reach the location, a shift towards beer production, and a desire to condense business operations.

We made this decision based on multiple factors, according to the Facebook announcement. One reason is due to the opening of our production facility and continuing to shift our focus to the beer side of the business. We also took a hit with the road construction that took place on Market Street. During the three-and-a-half years we were open, two of those years our customers had to work really hard to get into our parking lot to come eat with us, which over time took its toll.

The decision was also made to condense the companys operations to spend more time with a growing family, according to the post.

The building is now planned to be converted to a full-time taproom and event space called Bills Brewing Co. Taproom. Taproom customers will be able to order food from Captn Bills next door, which will now offer Bills famous fried chicken, tater tot skillets, the Pub-Fil-a and other favorites from the original Bills Front Porch menu, or they can bring their own food.

The new taproom will be open Tuesday-Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m., Friday from 4 to 10 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Mussers also plan to host special events in the taproom, including beer dinners with local vendors, pop-up food nights, and weekly specials and events.

They also announced that Bills Food Truck will continue to serve the Wilmington area.

We thank you all for the support youve shown us and continue to show us and we hope to see you on March 17th as we open the doors to Bills Brewing Co. Taproom, according to the post.

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Bill's Front Porch closes, will re-open as taproom to support growing brewery - Port City Daily