As of July 17, Lexington Tap House announced their closure on their Facebook page. In a Facebook post they posted, “We made the difficult decision to close Lexington Tap House as of yesterday (July 16) — thank you for all the support you’ve shown over the years.”
ColaDaily reached out to Lexington Tap House for an official statement. Owner Antoine Kelly provided this response:
“When I took over this restaurant in November 2024, I did so with clear eyes and a full heart. I understood the risks, but I also believed deeply in the potential of this space and this community. As any responsible business owner should, I went into the venture with both ambition and a realistic exit plan. I established a financial threshold—an amount of loss I could personally sustain—and unfortunately, I have now reached that point.
I have four children under the age of six. As much as I have loved pouring my energy into this business, my most important responsibility is to my family. This decision, while incredibly difficult, is the best one for our future. Let’s also be clear: this closure is not due to a lack of community support. Our customers have been phenomenal, and over the past nine months, we increased revenue by 10% year-over-year. But even that wasn’t enough to offset the mounting financial pressures small businesses face in this state.
This is a broader issue. The skyrocketing costs of goods—particularly food and alcohol—paired with South Carolina’s punitive insurance requirements have made it nearly impossible for small, independent restaurants to survive. Liquor liability insurance premiums have reached absurd levels, often exceeding tens of thousands of dollars per year. These mandates are pushing honest, hard-working business owners out of the market. We’re not large corporations with deep pockets—we’re your neighbors, your friends, your community members.
The state of South Carolina must take action. It is unacceptable that so many small businesses—the backbone of our economy—are being driven to closure by outdated and unaffordable insurance requirements. We fully support responsible alcohol service and are more than willing to invest in training and compliance, but forcing million-dollar liability policies on small restaurants is not the answer. It’s a death sentence for too many good businesses.
Despite these challenges, there is hope. We are currently in discussions with potential partners, and it’s possible this location will live on under new leadership. It’s a great space with an even greater community, and I believe it still has a future as a hub for food, drink, and connection. If I were in a position to invest more, I’d keep it going myself. But I ran this business on my own—no investors, no partners—just grit and passion. Now, it’s time to pass the torch.
To our patrons: thank you. Your loyalty and encouragement meant the world. This isn’t the end, just a new chapter.”
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