Hereford & Hops Steak House & Brewpub, a downtown Escanaba fixture for nearly 32 years, will shut its doors for good on Saturday, Oct. 3, ownership announced Tuesday, Aug. 25, according to WBUP.

The reason: the restaurant can no longer keep enough staff to operate.

Ownership said in a Facebook post that despite continued efforts, the brewpub has been unable to maintain enough staff to deliver the level of service guests expect. The statement thanked employees and the community for years of support.

The restaurant at 624 Ludington St. opened in December 1994 and became known for its grill-your-own steak feature, Mongolian Grill, house-smoked meats and award-winning handcrafted brews, according to Visit Escanaba. Its spaces included CJ's Lounge, which held 100 people with a dance floor.

What patrons need to know

Starting the week of Sept. 1, Hereford & Hops will operate only Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 4 p.m. until close. The kitchen will serve a limited menu of customer favorites while supplies last.

Management is urging anyone holding gift cards to redeem them before Oct. 3.

Broader pressures on Michigan restaurants

The closure fits a pattern hitting restaurants statewide. An April 2026 Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association survey found that 51% of Michigan operators reported same-store sales declines in March, compared to 39% nationally. Customer traffic fell at 55% of Michigan restaurants versus 46% nationwide, the Herald-Review reported.

Labor costs ranked as the second-biggest challenge for Michigan operators at 19%, trailing only food costs at 23%, according to the same survey. MRLA president and CEO Justin Winslow said in April that "the economic fundamentals are getting tougher" even as operators continue investing and creating jobs.

No successor business or building sale has been announced. Ownership has not indicated plans for the property beyond Oct. 3.