Great news! Would much rather patronize a revamped Tide House (who has a great outdoor patio!) than “Brewhaus” which, for me, will always be tainted as the cheating knockoff of Bierhaus and a stark symbol of the “we do anything for the bottom line” attitude we are depressingly surrounded by these days.

No, "Swan mom," Drafthaus (not "Brewhaus") won't be "tainted" as some "knockoff" that's just about "the bottom line." Not even for you, once you eventually understand that what you wrote above isn't the real story there at all -- just a poorly-informed guess, repeated lately by people who can't be bothered to look beyond first impressions. If you want to talk about depressing current attitudes, that kind of rush to judgment is a front-runner, even spilling into this article about a completely separate pub, Tied Haus. The actual problems of Bierhaus weren't created by the building's owners at all, it would have been easier and much cheaper for them just to renew a successful business tenant if that had been remotely possible. I don't know why more of that story isn't being presented here by the people involved, but I'm guessing it will be. Look back in a year or two, and see if anyone still clings to these careless assumptions about an "unethical" Tran family "forcing out" a successful business in order to "steal" their "idea."

None of that reflects on Tied House, of course, and mentioning it here distracts regrettably from Tied House's own good news. A beloved local institution getting a new life.

There are many, myself included, that think that the owners of Bierhaus were not offered to renew their lease so the landlord could redevelop and/or start their Drafthaus business after seeing how well it went for the Bierhaus owners. So perhaps you can enlighten us all with the real story since MV Voice hasn't.
Thanks

To the "@" questioner: First this is completely the wrong thread to be talking about the Bierhaus situation at all (I only responded to someone above who insisted on bringing the topic up here too). A separate, recent Voice story is dedicated to "Drafthaus." Second, that kind of "not offered the lease so that. . ." theory is just second-guessing by people who want a tidy explanation, but aren't willing to wait until they know about the whole business. Third, be patient, don't be so frantic to rush to judgment. I think you'll see more of the story before long, either as comments on the Voice's "Drafthaus" story or in later writings here.

Humble observer: You're not humble enough. You insist there's more to the Bierhaus/Drafthaus story, as though you know something few others know. (Isn't that the Trans' oft-used refrain?) Whatever that revelation, if there is one, it doesn't change the fact that a beloved, successful local business had to shut down and the property owners are attempting to capitalize on its, not their, work and dedication in building it.

Yes, maybe this isn't the ideal thread for that discussion, but let's allow people to comment. And if that includes an I'd-rather-go-here-than-there comment, so be it.

See you at the Tied House. Then again, you may be somewhere else, humbly observing things no one else sees.

I am very happy to see that common sense and our community has prevailed in this case! It is good to see that it is possible to save at least a small part of the wonderful character of Old Mountain View. I fully intend to make the pilgrimage from Modesto to Mountain View at least a few times a year to patronize the Tied House. Now, let's hope that establishments such as The Sports Page will also find new life in an environment that has become increasingly hostile to small businesses.



Jim Neal
Modesto, Ca
(Formerly Old Mountain View)