Working Class Brewery in Kamm's Corners Closes After 9 Years

Owner cites economic factors, market shifts, and personal reasons for shutting down the west side brewery

Feb. 2, 2026 at 9:23am

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Working Class Brewery, a craft brewery that opened in 2017 in the Kamm's Corners neighborhood of Cleveland, has closed its doors after 9 years in business. Owner Richard Skains, a former teacher and band director, cited economic factors, shifts in market trends, and personal reasons as the key factors behind the decision to shut down, including a 25% decline in taproom revenue following the COVID-19 pandemic and an additional 18% drop over the past year.

Why it matters

The closure of Working Class Brewery is part of a broader trend of small breweries struggling to stay afloat in the Cleveland area, with several other local breweries like Bookhouse Brewing, Midnight Owl, Voodoo Brewing, and Arsenal Cider also shutting down in recent months. This highlights the challenges facing independent breweries, especially those located outside of the city's more popular craft beer hubs.

The details

Working Class Brewery was founded in 2017 by Richard Skains, a former Cleveland teacher and band director, who chose to open the brewery in the Kamm's Corners neighborhood rather than the more popular craft beer destinations like Ohio City or Tremont. Despite this unconventional location, the brewery was able to build a loyal customer base and hold its own in the competitive Cleveland beer scene. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and other economic factors took a major toll, with Skains reporting a 25% decline in taproom revenue after the pandemic and an additional 18% drop over the past year.

  • Working Class Brewery opened in 2017.
  • The brewery closed its doors in February 2026.

The players

Richard Skains

The founder and owner of Working Class Brewery, a former Cleveland teacher and band director who opened the brewery in 2017.

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What they’re saying

“Economic factors, shifts in market trends, as well as personal reasons have led us to this decision but ultimately the decrease in taproom revenue, 25% after the Covid Pandemic and then another 18% over the past year have forced us to close the doors.”

— Richard Skains, Owner, Working Class Brewery

“Thank you to all our loyal customers, cheers to you for showing up all the time. We will certainly miss you.”

— Richard Skains, Owner, Working Class Brewery

The takeaway

The closure of Working Class Brewery is a sobering reminder of the challenges facing small, independent breweries in the post-pandemic economy, especially those located outside of the most popular craft beer hubs. This trend highlights the need for continued support and innovation within the local brewing industry to ensure the survival of these community-focused businesses.