Folks around the local beer industry saw this coming, but are still saddened by today’s news that the venerable Pike Pub is closing effective November 30, 2025. Located near Pike Place Market, the former home of Pike Brewing Company will close after 35 years of operation. So too will the much newer Pike Fish Bar, which operates upstairs at the same address. (photo credit: Pike Brewing.)
Charles and Rose Ann Finkel opened their brewery in 1989, near Pike Place Market. A few years later, they opened the Pike Pub. Because of its proximity to Pike Place Market, Pike Brewing was many out-of-towners’ only glimpse into the city’s craft beer scene. The ambassador served the town well for three decades and always made us proud.
Pike Brewing will continue to produce and distribute beer. With recent changes in the company’s structure (outlined below), the Pike Pub has become “increasingly difficult to sustain,” according to the press release announcing the closure.
A Brief and Incomplete Timeline
- In 1989, Charles and Rose Ann Finkel opened Pike Place Brewing. The original brewery was nearby on Western Avenue.
- The Pike Pub opened at its current location in 1996, when the brewery also changed its name to Pike Brewing.
- In 2021, Pike Brewing was acquired by Seattle Hospitality Group (SHG), the company that owns Kenmore Air, MTRWESTERN motorcoach transportation, Ethan Stowell Restaurants, and is affiliated with others.
- In 2022, Pike Brewing announced it was opening two new locations. Today, one is still open (near the Convention Center).
- In 2023, Pike Brewing announced it was building a new, state-of-the-art brewery in the SoDo/Georgetown area. It would close the brewery near Pike Place Market, but the Pike Pub would remain open.
- In 2024, SHG acquired Fremont Brewing Company. So, SHG owned both Fremont Brewing and Pike Brewing.
- It soon became clear that the new Pike Brewing facility was unnecessary, a development that displaced Pike Brewing workers. Fremont Brewing is a larger facility with the capacity to produce Pike Brewing’s beers alongside its own. Pike Brewing Beers are now made at/by Fremont Brewing.
- On November 3, 2025, Charles and Rose Ann Finkel were inducted into the Washington Brewers Guild Hall of Fame as part of the Hall’s inaugural class.
- Today.
There are more layers to the story, but for today, all that matters is the sad news that a venerable Seattle beer institution is closing after three decades. In addition to a brewpub, the Pike Pub is also a fantastic beer museum, with walls covered in all sorts of beer memorabilia from Charles Finkel’s private collection. What will become of those historic artifacts remains to be seen.
For now, beer lovers are mourning the loss of this historic Seattle beer landmark. Below, I share the press release that announced the pending closure.
Pike Brewing Bids a Bittersweet Farewell to Pike Pub and Pike Fish Bar Locations on November 30th
SEATTLE, WA — (November 19, 2025) – Pike Brewing today announced it will be closing its Pike Pub and Pike Fish Bar locations near Pike Place Market. The Pike Summit Taproom, located at the Summit Seattle Convention Center, will remain open.
Founded by Charles and Rose Ann Finkel, the Pike Pub opened in 1989 and quickly became a pioneering fixture in Seattle’s beer and food scene. The Pike Fish Bar, a casual walk-up seafood and beer counter, was added in 2022.
“The traditional pub model became increasingly difficult to sustain, and we reached a point where we had to make a tough, but necessary, decision,” said Matt Lincecum, CEO of Pike Brewing. “The Pike Pub helped define what a Seattle craft brewery could be. We’re incredibly proud of the people who’ve contributed to that legacy. I even learned to homebrew from a kit bought at Liberty Malt Supply, a Pike project. As Pike Brewing looks ahead, we’re focusing on what we do best, brewing exceptional beer and delivering it to friends and fans across the Pacific Northwest.”
Pike Brewing will continue to produce and distribute its flagship beers including Kilt Lifter Scotch Ale, Monk’s Uncle Tripel Ale, Space Needle West Coast IPA, Post Alley Pils, Uptown Hazy IPA as well as the Ol’ Crimson Legendary Lager along with seasonal and fresh hop releases throughout the Pacific Northwest.
The final day of service for both Pike Pub and Pike Fish Bar will be on November 30th. Both locations will offer $4 draft beers through the closing date.
