DC/Baltimore: an opening and a closing

A juxtaposition.

Blob's Park, the long-time German dance hall and beer bar is reopening in Jessup, Maryland.

Ten months after the Eggrel family decided to close Blob's Park's Bavarian Biergarten, [Max Eggrel, the great-nephew of founder Max Blob] is pouring money into a massive renovation that will end with a reopening at the end of the year. <...>"It's in my blood," he said. "The place has so much history and such a following and I just felt I had to do it."

Oompah! Blob's is back
Famed beer garden to reopen in Jessup
By Marc Shapiro
HometownAnnapolis.com
20 October 2008

[UPDATE: Blob's announces its re-opening for 31 December 2008!]

Old Dominion Brewing, the long-time craft brewery of northern Virginia is closing in Ashburn, Virginia.

Coastal Brewing Company announced today that it will consolidate its operations by moving all brewing to the company's state-of-the-art facility in Dover, Del. The decision means that the company's brewery in Ashburn, Va., will be closed in 2009. <..>

"Our number one focus is clear: to continue making the high-quality craft beers that beer lovers have come to expect from the Fordham and Old Dominion names," said Garry Williams, CEO of Coastal Brewing Co. "But to deliver on that promise, we have to make sure we are running an effective business, particularly in light of the current economic situation. Operating two breweries in such close proximity is not cost-efficient, nor is it environmentally responsible, so it's just good business sense to combine operations into our most modern facility."

as quoted by Gregg Wiggins
reporter for Mid-Atlantic Brewing News
on DC-Beer, 21 October 2008

Alerted to Blob's Park renovations by Beer in Baltimore blog and to the Dominion closing by Musings Over a Pint.