USA, MO: Wellspent Brewing to shutter for good on June 29
On June 29, St. Louis beer lovers will raise a glass to Wellspent Brewing (2917 Olive) one last time, STLmag.com reported on June 12.
After seven years of pouring some of the city’s most nuanced, quietly spectacular beers, the Midtown taproom is closing its doors.
The decision to close was years in the making. “All of the growth plans required significant investment, and with sales off year over year, I couldn’t justify it,” says owner Eben Shantz. “I also wanted to commit more time to family and streamline the rest of my life—it’s messy enough as it is.”
Kyle Kohlmorgen opened Wellspent Brewing in 2018. The brewery quickly became known for its balanced, barrel-aged styles and low-ABV beers packed with flavor. It was located inside a historic Midtown space that once housed the Bonanza Theatre. Restored marquees and salvaged balcony pieces gave the space a sense of history, and the beer quickly earned a devoted following.
“I went to Wellspent all the time when it first opened,” Shantz recalls. “It became my happy place.”
As the challenges of solo ownership mounted, however, Shantz offered to help Kohlmorgen. “I saw the brewery go up for sale and told myself, Man, I have got to try to help him out here.” They reached a deal that kept Wellspent out of receivership, with Kohlmorgen staying on to support a two-year transition. Together, they weathered the pandemic, thanks in large part to customer loyalty.
Still, even with high-quality beer and a strong ethos, the business struggled to scale. Recent efforts to find a new owner fell short. “We gave it five months,” Shantz says. “There was plenty of interest, and one person actually signed a commitment to buy—but then ghosted. With an expired lease and license renewals coming up, it was time to make the call.”
Staff were given notice months in advance. “Everyone was saddened but not surprised,” Shantz says. “It was past time.”
The business is currently listed with Transworld Business Advisors for $50,000. If no buyer steps forward by the end of this month, the brewing equipment will go to auction.
Shantz still believes the Wellspent model can work, given the right neighborhood and marketing. “You need foot traffic,” he says. “If you have to rely on distribution, it becomes a volume game.”
Reflecting on the journey, Shantz remains proud of what was built. “This is not a goodbye but a recognition that the page has turned and a new chapter unfolds,” he wrote in Wellspent’s farewell note.
Asked to elaborate, he smiles. “I’ve got other ventures and three kids under 10—I just don’t need another thing at this point,” he says. “But the ethos and character of Wellspent will always live through me and the people who passed through the brewery.”
12 June, 2025
