Ebony & Ivory Brewing, the Black-owned taproom that helped put Happy Holler on Knoxville’s nightlife radar, will pour its final pints on North Central Street on March 29, 2026, the owners announced Tuesday. The closure will end a roughly three-year run for the neighborhood spot and has regulars, neighbors and nearby businesses bracing for the loss of a familiar community hangout. Owners described the move as a difficult call after mounting pressures made staying in the space unsustainable.
According to WBIR, co-owners Chico Dupas and Mitchell Russell shared the news in a Facebook post, citing “rising costs and uncontrollable circumstances” behind the decision. They described the announcement as “a farewell to the space that held so much for so many.” The post set March 29 as the taproom’s final day, while making clear that the brewery’s distribution footprint will remain and that beer production will continue. WBIR reported that the owners used social media to thank staff and customers as part of the announcement.
The taproom is located at 2300 North Central Street, Suite 101, in the Happy Holler district, according to the brewery’s website. The business has taken part in local events and appears on a statewide list compiled by the National Black Brewers Association, which notes it as one of a relatively small number of Black-owned breweries in Tennessee.
Why This Matters For Happy Holler
Ebony & Ivory held its public grand opening in April 2023 after a period of soft operations and quickly turned into a go-to spot for live music, fundraisers and collaborative events with nearby businesses. Inside of Knoxville documented the brewery’s debut and highlighted its role in building a sense of community along North Central. With the taproom closing, Happy Holler will lose one of its neighborhood gathering points, and the cluster of small, independent breweries that helped define the area’s recent momentum will get a bit thinner.
What Comes Next For The Beer
Even as the taproom prepares to shut its doors, the owners told WBIR they intend to keep brewing and distributing, so fans can still expect to see cans on store shelves and find Ebony & Ivory on tap at partner bars. Their announcement did not say whether production will move to a different permanent facility, or whether the taproom closure should be seen as temporary or permanent. For now, the owners plan to use their social channels to share updates on inventory and any future plans…