PORTLAND, Ore. — After six years in operation, the Northeast Portland cidery Cider Riot will close Sunday.
The owner, Abram Goldman-Armstrong, began brewing in his garage in 2013, expanded and moved to the Northeast Couch location in 2016. His cider won international awards.
The Northeast Portland pub had become a popular hangout for left-wing activists.
It was the site of a brawl between left and right-wing activists earlier this year. The brawl began after Patriot Prayer members showed up to Cider Riot during a May Day celebration where several antifascists were in attendance. A violent brawl broke out.
Goldman-Armstrong sued patriot prayer leader Joey Gibson for $1 million dollars in damages, clean-up, loss of profits and additional security, according to court documents.
In a May interview with the Portland Business Journal, Goldman Armstrong said he merely set out to open a welcoming spot.
"We wanted it to be welcoming to people of all races, genders, and identities. And it’s unfortunate that those values put us in the crosshairs of a hate group," said Goldman-Armstrong.
Ultimately, Goldman-Armstrong said, that had nothing to do with Cider Riot closing.
“This is a simple economic problem," he said. "When we built our facility back in 2016 we thought we’d be doing two thousand to three thousand barrels a year. We’re kind of stuck at a thousand. That’s not enough to pay the bills here.”
His business joins a growing list of local breweries that shuttered in the last year. But he says he’s proud of what he’s done.
“It’s been an amazing ride. I’m lucky to be a part of this amazing industry.”