Brooklyn residents say goodbye to another beloved community hangout spot.
After being in business for 12 years, Bed-Vyne Brew, also known as The Brew, shut its doors for good on Sunday. Since opening in 2013, the local business has provided Brooklynites with a place to grab a drink, enjoy good music, and have a great time. With an outdoor patio, the Brew, which sat on the corner of Tompkins Ave and Putnam Ave, quickly became a go-to spot for many.
Residents from all over would spend their time at The Brew. “I actually had things to do today, and I canceled my plans. We are paying our respects,” Marc Jean from Flatbush said in an interview with the BK Reader. He continued, “Where do we go as Black people, we all come from every borough, every neighborhood in Brooklyn. With a lot of these places closing, where do we go now?”
Back in January, the owners announced that they had to temporarily shut down “as it felt like it was targeted by various city agencies.” Co-Owner, Michael Brooks, spoke about feeling pressure after things changed at the 79th Precinct in late 2023.
“They weaponized as many agencies as they could against us,” Brooks said. He also revealed that he, along with the other owners, receives multiple citations from city agencies over noise and safety concerns. “This made it financially infeasible for us to continue. They didn’t want us here anymore, and they made sure that was the case.”
During their final gathering, Rotimi Akinnyoye, another owner, thanked the community for all of their support throughout the years. “We wanted to thank everybody for twelve years of Bed-Vyne Brew. I know that people are sad, but this is not an occasion to be sad. This is community,” Akinnyoye said. “It is critical that we own our own property. Even though the precinct gave us a rough time and we’re shutting down, we own the building, so we’re not going anywhere!”