The Brewer’s Art in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon closes abruptly after 30 years, leaving employees unpaid

A sudden shutdown in one of Baltimore’s most established dining and brewing addresses

The Brewer’s Art, a long-running brewpub and restaurant in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood, closed without advance public notice on Monday, February 2, 2026, ending a three-decade run that began in 1996. The business operated out of a historic townhouse and was widely known for its house beers, including Resurrection, and for its multi-level layout that included an upstairs bar and a basement lounge.

Employees learned of the closure the same day and were told not to report to work. Staff members said they were also informed they would not be paid for wages already earned. The owner, Volker Stewart, indicated in a message to employees that the closure was immediate and tied to worsening financial strain in recent months.

Financial pressures and a documented lien

Public court records referenced in reporting on the closure show the state placed an $85,000 lien against the business in December 2025. While the lien does not, by itself, establish the full scope of the company’s finances, it is a documented marker of unpaid obligations that can accompany broader cash-flow problems for hospitality operators.

The abrupt nature of the shutdown adds to uncertainty for workers and vendors, because a permanent closure can quickly interrupt payroll processing, scheduled shifts, and outstanding invoices. Former employees described the closure as unexpected and said there had been no internal indication that the business was days away from shutting down.

What Maryland law requires when workers are owed pay

Under Maryland wage rules, employers are required to pay employees all wages due for work performed before termination on or before the day the employee would have been paid if employment had not ended. The state also prohibits practices that effectively hold back earned wages as a form of security. Workers seeking recovery of unpaid wages may pursue administrative or court options depending on the amount and circumstances.

• Final wages are generally due by the next regular payday that would have applied if employment continued.
• Unpaid wage disputes can be pursued through state processes or through courts, depending on claim size.
• Separate rules may apply to vacation payout depending on a company’s written policy and how it was communicated.

A landmark business with a distinct place in the neighborhood’s identity

The Brewer’s Art built its reputation through in-house brewing and a bar program that drew both neighborhood regulars and visitors. Its footprint also reflected shifting patterns in the city’s food-and-beverage economy, including pandemic-era disruptions that forced many operators to adjust hours, staffing, and service models. A prior milestone for the business included the reopening of its basement bar after an extended closure earlier in the decade.

The closure leaves open questions about what comes next for the property, the future of the brand and recipes, and how quickly displaced workers can secure new employment in a competitive restaurant labor market.

As of February 3, 2026, no reopening timeline has been announced, and the closure is being treated as permanent by employees and patrons who arrived to find the doors closed.