Portland's Craft Beer Scene Shifts: Gigantic Brewing's Hawthorne Taproom Bids Farewell

It’s always a little sad when a familiar local spot closes its doors, especially one that’s been a cornerstone of the community. For fans of Portland’s vibrant craft beer scene, that bittersweet moment is approaching as Gigantic Brewing prepares to close its original taproom on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard. The final day for a pint at this beloved location will be June 30th, marking the end of an era for many.

Now, before anyone starts panicking and thinking Gigantic is going out of business, let’s clear the air: that’s absolutely not the case! This isn’t a sign of struggle, but rather a strategic move, prompted by circumstances outside their control. Co-founder Van Havig candidly shared the sentiment, saying, "It's bittersweet, because this is our home, our original taproom." It’s tough to leave a place with so much history, a place where countless beers were poured and memories made, but the reality is their lease is simply coming to an end.

The decision to close, it turns out, stems from the landlord's plans. Gramor Development, who owns the property, intends to redevelop the site, envisioning a new retail and restaurant space taking its place. "We didn't want to close," Havig explained, acknowledging the business would have happily stayed put. "But the landlord has other plans, and it's their property. They're going to build a new retail and restaurant space there." Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you just have to roll with the punches and adapt.

So, where does that leave Gigantic Brewing? Well, rest assured, you’ll still be able to enjoy their fantastic brews. The team is simply consolidating their operations, focusing on their two other thriving locations. You can still catch them at Gigi's Cafe, a popular spot nestled at 6236 SE Foster Road, or visit the larger, more expansive Rocket Empire Machine over at 6935 NE Glisan. In fact, Rocket Empire Machine is where they do most of their brewing anyway, boasting a bigger taproom, an array of delicious food carts, and plenty of space for events.

Havig remains optimistic, framing the situation as an opportunity to "make lemonade out of lemons." While they'll certainly miss the charm of their original Hawthorne spot, this consolidation allows Gigantic to streamline operations and really lean into the strengths of their other locations. They're even keeping an eye out for a potential new "neighborhood space" down the line, so the future for Gigantic Brewing, despite this change, looks bright and, dare I say, still quite gigantic.