I mean, damn. One of the last OG's in 12South, soon to be gone in puff of smoke after some heartless developer razes the building and erects an ugly building housing 12 condominiums or apartments in its place. The 12South I knew and fell in love with ceased a long time ago but at least there were remnants - Portland Brew and the Taproom - that were reminders of what the neighborhood was like before tourists and bridesmaids took it over. No more.
When the Taproom originally opened on June 6, 2006, owner Will Stuff was married to Christy Shuff. She owned and operated Rumor's Wine Bar, which was a couple of doors down the Taproom. They later divorced, Rumor's relocated to the Gulch (due, of course, to the construction of an early residential/retail development), then quite closed a few years later.
Originally, the Taproom was a gourmet market with a small bar that served craft beers and filled customers' growlers. (Growlers! That's actually was a thing back in the day.). There was a hand-painted, blue sign outside on the front of the building - 12South Taproom - and picnic tables on the front patio. In later years, Will renovated and covered the front patio and hosted trivia and live music there every week.
The Taproom found its footing when it pivoted away from the gourmet market concept, expanded the kitchen, and began serving food. The menu always was eclectic - burritos, sandwiches, and entrees - and craft beer selection was the best in town in the heyday of the craft beer renaissance.
After JP was born in 2008, on weekend afternoons I often strolled him up from our old house on Elliott Avenue to the taproom. While he slept contentedly in the City Elite stroller, I read the New Yorker, worked the crossword puzzle, or talked to the bartender, Sweeney. He was the son of a lawyer and former judge I knew in passing, and once hit two or three home runs off me at East Park, playing for his dad's law firm softball team.
Things were so different then. As I recall, the Taproom had followed the lead of many other restaurants and stopped allowing smoking, inside or out. There was a mild backlash, I think, as the smokers stayed away. Those Saturday and Sunday afternoons in the Taproom with JP were quiet, peaceful, and memorable, especially when he woke up and I gave him his milk and snack.
For a while, I arranged for special guests to meet me there while JP napped. Matteson drove up from Franklin one Saturday afternoon. Another time, Rip Pewett drove over and had a beer or two with me while JP napped. Those were the days, for sure. I remember trying to convince Jude that JP and I had been to get ice cream after his nap, which worked until she saw a photo of him sitting on the bar with the beer taps behind him.
Side note: Right on time, two women from a bachelorette party just strolled in for coffee at 8th and Roast.
The Taproom was a place where business meetings happened at lunch, couples on first dates when to dinner, parents took kids for a family dinner, and youth baseball or soccer teams had after game get togethers. Just last year, I took my law league softball team there for beers after the end of season tournament.
Over the years, our family got takeout from the Taproom a thousand teams. The Salmon BLT, and early favorite of mine, became one of JP's go to meal, too. We always ordered the hummus and pita, too.
The Taproom was (I am already speaking of it in the past tense) a neighborhood anchor for 12South, a reminder of what the neighborhood used to be like before it became crowded with weekend tourists shopping in high end boutique clothing stores. No more.
Because I've not drank beer much at all the past several years, the Taproom hasn't been a regular stop for me, not like it was in the early years. Still, it was comforting knowing it was there and we've always enjoyed the food.
I'm going to get by the Taproom, maybe as soon as this weekend, and get a beer for old times sake.
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