Proximity Brewing, founded by Blacktoberfest co-creator Mike Potter, closed its taproom at 491 S. Driver St. in East Durham on March 26, less than three years after opening. The brewery cited high operating costs and called the move "a reset, not an ending."
Proximity says it will continue brewing and maintain wholesale partnerships while reworking its business model. A future taproom in a new location remains a possibility, according to the brewery's social media post.
The closure adds to a rough stretch for Triangle taprooms. Flying Bull Beer Company shuttered its original Ninth Street location in late February, though it still operates on Morris Street. Vicious Fishes, Cotton House Craft Brewers, and Havoc Brewing have also closed locations across the region in the past year.
When Proximity opened in December 2023, it joined Congress Social Bar as part of a cluster of Black-owned food and drink businesses along Driver Street. Mike D's BBQ, another neighbor at the time, has since closed and been replaced by Dame's Chicken and Waffles.