Downtown Tucson is about to lose one of its more ambitious taprooms. Brick Box Brewery, the community hangout that took over the old Thunder Canyon Brewery space on East Broadway Boulevard, has announced it will close on Nov. 29. The brewery is inviting customers to come in over the next month for one last round.
The news landed on Tuesday morning, when the brewery posted on social media, Tucson Foodie reports. In its message, Brick Box wrote, “We want to thank all of you that have contributed and shared the space with us over the years,” and signed off with “We love you Tucson.” The taproom sits at 220 E. Broadway Blvd., and the announcement did not include a reason for the closure.
Also left unanswered is what happens next, both for the building and for events on the calendar. The brewery did not say what will become of the space or its upcoming events, so for now the Nov. 29 date is the only firm detail. The brewery typically opens 4 p.m. to midnight Wednesday through Friday and noon to midnight on weekends, for anyone planning a farewell visit.
From Thunder Canyon to Brick Box
Brick Box was born out of a changing of the guard. Founder Steve Tracy retired, and, as an earlier Tucson Foodie piece put it, “with Tracy’s retirement comes a rebranding.” James Owens, Thunder Canyon’s former general manager, and Michael Nixon, its former head brewer, took the reins.
The pair took over the space in 2024, according to Life Along the Streetcar. How long Thunder Canyon itself lasted depends on who you ask: Tucson Foodie describes 27 years as a staple of the local craft beer community, while Life Along the Streetcar says founder Tracy decided it was time to retire after 23 years.
More Than Just a Brewery
Owens and Nixon pitched the place as something broader than a beer bar. Life Along the Streetcar says the space was “reimagined not only for beer lovers but for artists, musicians, and community members of all kinds,” and that it also served as an incubator for local restaurants. The taproom hosted live music, rotating local art and food pop-ups, and it even rented its large room for weddings and private events.
The food side had real infrastructure behind it. Inside Tucson Business noted that Brick Box had a commissary kitchen, a licensed commercial kitchen where outside vendors may create their own food products to sell. Nondrinkers were not forgotten either, with an in-house root beer on offer.
A Tough Stretch for Craft Beer
The closure arrives as the craft beer business works through a rough patch. The Brewers Association reports that total U.S. craft production fell 4% in 2025, and that the number of operating craft breweries slipped to 9,578, a 2.9% net decline. Openings dropped to 300, while 481 breweries closed. The group also found that hospitality-driven models like brewpubs and taprooms remained comparatively resilient.
Costs and consumer habits are part of the story, too. KGUN 9 reports that rising costs and distribution expenses are part of breweries’ financial hardships, and that drinkers are increasingly interested in non-alcoholic brews, seltzers and cocktails. Brick Box has not said any of this played a role in its decision.
Tucson is not alone in saying goodbye to a longtime pour house. CalMatters notes that Triple Rock Brewery in Berkeley is shutting its doors after 40 years, and Lost Coast Brewery in Eureka is auctioning off its equipment as its founder retires after 36 years. For Brick Box regulars, the next month is a chance to raise a glass before the taps go dry on Nov. 29.
