Beer garden near Columbia is closing its doors, blames SC liquor insurance laws
A popular beer garden near Columbia plans to close its doors.
The Dales Biergarten & Bottle Shoppe, located at 3150 Platt Springs Road in the small town of Springdale, announced the coming closure in a weekend social media post. The last day at the beer garden will be Friday, Oct. 17, according to the post.
The establishment cited liquor liability insurance laws as a reason for the closure, which has been an ongoing issue in South Carolina in the last two years, with many bar and restaurant owners citing skyrocketing premiums.
“We also want to take a moment to encourage everyone who cares about the future of local businesses like ours to raise your concerns with your South Carolina state representatives,” The Dales said in its social media post regarding the coming closure. “The current laws and insurance requirements are making it nearly impossible for small, independent venues to survive. Your voice can help create change.”
The Dales opened in 2023 along busy Platt Springs Road. It has been known for its variety of craft beer offerings, as well as a grill that had wings, sandwiches and more. The beer garden is closing out its last week with a number of events, including music bingo on Monday night, trivia on Tuesday night, $1 wings on Wednesday, the band Tokyo Joe playing Thursday night and a Halloween party on Friday.
“We can’t begin to express our gratitude,” The Dales said on Facebook. “It’s been an absolute privilege to meet you, serve this community, and share so many great times and unforgettable nights. Thank you for the love, support, and memories.”
The Dales’ announcement is the latest move in what has been a tumultuous few weeks on the beer scene in the Midlands. Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant at the BullStreet District in Columbia closed its doors on Sept. 25 as its entire franchise shuttered. Then, on Oct. 6, Columbia Craft announced that it was closing its taproom on Greene Street in Columbia, citing “rising costs, shifting consumer habits and increased competition.” Columbia Craft is continuing to make its beer available for sale at retail stores and on draft at restaurants.
