Local Powell-based brewery Nocterra Brewing Co. has closed.
Nocterra had two locations. The original location in Powell opened in 2019 and a second location at the Scioto Audubon Metropark opened in 2024. The Audubon location closed on Saturday and the Powell location closed on Sunday.
A sign posted on the Audubon location's door reads, “Nocterra Brewing Co. Powell and Audubon are closed until further notice. It is with heavy hearts that we must temporarily pause operations as we restructure. We thank our staff and community from the bottom of our hearts and appreciate the understanding while we work through the next steps for Nocterra.”
A statement on the business’ social media platforms dispelled online rumors that Wolf’s Ridge Brewing Company was involved in Nocterra's temporary shuttering.
Neither statement included the reason for the temporary closure or a timeline or date for reopening. Columbus Business First reported that the Audubon location will not reopen. WOSU has not been able to independently confirm this.
Dan McClurg, owner of the Powell property, said even he didn’t know the business was closing.
“I was hiking with my dog and my phone started kind of blowing up and, but you know, I'm out in the woods hiking. I don't want to talk on my phone, so I just let it go,” he recalled. “And then I started getting texts. ‘What's going on with Nocterra?’ I'm like, “I don't know. What do you mean?’ They're like, ‘they're closing today.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, that's news to me.’”
McClurg said he hasn’t spoken with the owners of Nocterra, but on Monday morning he went to change the locks and put up “For Lease” signs.
“As far as I know, they're closed,” McClurg said. “I went this morning to put my signs up and secure the building. If I have an empty building, you know, it's a liability. They just didn't communicate with me.”
Ray Ortiz lives close to the Powell location, and said much of the staff and patrons weren’t informed the brewery would be closing until the day before. Ortiz said Nocterra Powell was packed on Sunday.
“There was a lot of tears and beers yesterday and nobody wanted to leave. It was one of those things, it's like a World Series game,” he said. “It's over, you just won and you just don't want to leave the building. But it was sad, it wasn't happy.”
Ortiz spoke with a Nocterra branded coffee mug in his hand. He said the Nocterra Fantasy Football league he’s a part of will meet at Parsons North Brewing Company on Monday night for their draft.
“It almost feels like a second home,” Ortiz said. “I've probably met about 30 to 40 people who I've become friends with. But friends here, nowhere else. We've done a few things off the books, but most of it's been done here.”
Both Ortiz and McClurg also expressed sympathy for the staff.
“For most of them, this was just extra income, but for some, it was a full-time job,” Ortiz said. “They've been there since I moved in here and it's always nice to get a restaurant or a place and it's the same people and then they know you better and you feel more comfortable.”
Ortiz said the neighborhood will definitely feel the absence of Nocterra.
“It'll be quieter here,” Ortiz said. “When you close one thing, you do move on. It's not easy. It hurts. I still believe it's the friendship, that's what most people are crying about.”
Nocterra did not respond to WOSU's request for comment.
