Bosco’s Brewpub Falls Victim To Nashville’s Craft Beer Boom

Bosco’s, a brewpub that operated for 18 years in Hillsboro Village, called Sunday its last day. Credit: Bobby Allyn

After nearly two decades in business, Bosco’s, one of Nashville’s first brewpubs, is closing amid increasing competition from craft beer establishments in nearby neighborhoods.

Co-owner Jerry Feinstone said bars in 12South, the Gulch and 8th Avenue have gobbled up many of the customers who used to frequent Bosco’s for beer made in-house and dinner offerings.

“If there’s any excuse, it’s basically to blame me,” said Feinstone, who’s in his 70s and lives in Memphis. “I didn’t bring sales along at the rate they needed to be.”

He said the hype around newer microbreweries has been a boon for the craft beer scene in Nashville, but it also has made it challenging to keep up. In addition, his rent has been steadily climbing. Exacerbating those problems, he said, foot traffic has been affected by the condo complex currently under construction next to the Bosco’s building.

Feeling the pressure of sinking profits, he recently sat down with his accountants.

“And we looked at this thing, and said ‘here we are putting more money in, putting more money in, and no chance of getting any return on it,’ and we just had to make a decision,” he said.

Feinstone will now train his attention on Memphis, where he operates the brewery, Ghost River Brewing Co., which is now undergoing an expansion.

Memphis’ brewpub scene is quickly picking up, Feinstone said, yet still far behind Nashville, where more than a dozen microbreweries now operate.

His next challenge? Getting the brewing equipment out of the building. It was all brought in during an early renovation before doors were installed.

“What’s going to happen to the equipment? We haven’t decided yet.”