If you live in the Town of Hampton, you are losing a local taproom this month. A familiar brewery is making a comeback. Luke MacGregor is the joint owner of The Gridiron Brewery and The Porch Taproom. He announced that Gridiron returns to its former home on Main Street after The Porch closes on March 31.

A Shift in Partnership

The Porch operated as a partnership combining MacGregor and his Gridiron Brewery with Hampton distillery Ole Foggy. Christina Campbell Murray and her late husband Aaron Murray owned the distillery. To make the partnership work, Gridiron moved from 1051 Main St. to 370 Main St.

The business opened last summer. During the process, Aaron Murray passed away on July 18 after a battle with cancer. Campbell Murray took over Ole Foggy but recently decided to step away and close the business.

“I think she just sort of lost the desire to be part of it with Aaron’s passing,” MacGregor said in an interview with Your Saint John. He holds no grudges and looks forward to reopening his business.

What to Expect from the New Gridiron

MacGregor is now focusing on reopening Gridiron as a solo venture. He plans to open the doors by June. The new location features a custom pub food menu and original cocktails. Since the kitchen construction takes time, MacGregor plans to secure permits for food trucks to serve customers in the interim.

“It’s disappointing that it didn’t work out, but we are pretty optimistic that things will move forward to move onward with the Gridiron,” MacGregor said.

Community Support and Next Steps

The Hampton community strongly supports the move back to 1051 Main St. Patrons are already offering help with the transition.

“We have had a lot of very good response,” MacGregor said. “People, I think, are quite excited to see sort of the Gridiron return to its roots.”

The Porch hosts a farewell party on its closing date. Meanwhile, the former Porch and Ole Foggy space at 370 Main St. is currently listed for sale with an asking price of $625,000.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is The Porch Taproom closing?
The Porch Taproom officially closes on March 31 and hosts a farewell party on that date.

Where is Gridiron Brewery moving?
Gridiron Brewery returns to its original location at 1051 Main Street in Hampton.

When will the new Gridiron Brewery open?
Owner Luke MacGregor plans to reopen the brewery by June.

Will the new location serve food?
Yes. The brewery offers its own pub food menu. While the kitchen is under construction, food trucks operate on site.