Editor’s note: Photo Editor Sean Reed is an employee of Keg & Kernel. They were not involved in any part of the reporting or editing process for this piece.

DeKALB – Keg & Kernel by Tangled Roots Brewing Company located at 106 E. Lincoln Highway will close its doors on April 28 after three years of business.

Keg & Kernel released a statement Monday on its Facebook page announcing it will permanently close its doors.

“With heavy hearts and deep gratitude, we write to inform you that Keg & Kernel will be permanently closing its doors on April 28, 2024. It’s been an incredible journey, and we are immensely thankful for the unwavering support and love you’ve shown us throughout the years,” according to the announcement.

Anna Wright, director of marketing at Tangled Roots Brewing Company, said although Keg & Kernel had specials to try to get business, it was not enough to keep them open.

“We did a lot throughout the years. We had special menus, we offered incentives for people who bought X amount of meals, they would get buy five, get one free, we had a great happy hour menu. We redid the menu several times,” Wright said. “We made a lot of changes over the course of the three years and we were able to make a lot of friends and have regular guests through our doors, however, it wasn’t enough to carry the business.”

Wright said the DeKalb community has been very supportive, especially when it comes to the Keg & Kernel staff.

“The community has been very supportive of the closing. We’ve had several businesses reach out to offer our staff jobs or careers or give them some other places to look,” Wright said. “A lot of the feedback has been sad to see us leave. So I would say overall, it’s been a very supportive community.

Tangled Roots Brewing Company has three other locations throughout Illinois.

Wright said although the DeKalb location is closing its doors, new locations throughout Illinois will be opening soon.

“We will not be reopening Keg & Kernel, but Tangled Roots will be opening new locations in Vernon Hills, South Barrington, Washington, Illinois and Lasalle and then growing our location in Ottawa,” Wright said.

Keg & Kernel’s hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and it is closed Mondays.