Minneapolis Brewery Wins Lease Extension to 2028
A craft brewery and comedy venue near Dunwoody College will stay at its Ontario Avenue West location until January 2028.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Beer
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A Minneapolis craft brewery and comedy venue at 712 Ontario Avenue West has received a lease extension allowing it to remain at the site until January 2028. Dunwoody College had decided not to renew the lease, which had forced the business to relocate or close.
Why it matters
The extension gives the venue roughly two more years at its current location, which has operated across from the Dunwoody College campus since June 2014. The owner's social media announcement describes the earlier non-renewal as threatening a successful small business.
The extended lease runs until January 2028, according to the business owner's announcement. The original non-renewal would have ended the lease at the end of 2026, and it is not yet known whether the venue will remain at the site after the extension expires.
The players
Dunwoody College of Technology
A Minneapolis technical college whose campus sits across the street from the brewery and whose decision not to renew the lease set off the dispute.
Michael Che
A stand-up comedian and Saturday Night Live writer and performer who gave a surprise set at the venue last summer.
The details
Dunwoody College negotiated with the brewery, signed a letter of intent, and then chose not to extend the lease before the owner announced a reversal allowing operations through January 2028. The venue hosts comedy shows, including a surprise stand-up set by Michael Che last summer, along with Tuesday open mic nights and Thursday headliner bookings.
Timeline
June 2014: The brewery opened at its current Ontario Avenue West location.
Last summer: A surprise stand-up performance by Michael Che took place at the venue.
End of 2026: The original lease would have expired, forcing closure or relocation.
January 2028: The extended lease expires.
Local Landscape
Small businesses leasing space beside institutional campuses often depend on landlord renewal decisions that the tenant does not control. This case shows how a non-renewal decision by Dunwoody College reshaped the future of a nearby Minneapolis venue.
Patrons of the brewery's comedy nights and open mic events can keep attending through January 2028 under the extended lease. Neighborhood residents and students near the Dunwoody campus retain a local venue for the next two years.
The takeaway
Lease renewals with institutional landlords can determine the survival of local small businesses, so tenants benefit from tracking expiration dates well in advance.
What happens next
The venue's lease runs through January 2028, when it will need to close or relocate unless a further extension is reached.
Further reading
For more on the local craft scene, explore Minneapolis beer coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul.
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