OLATHE, Kan. – The Johnson County brewery celebrates a big win after voters approved action to overturn a law that dates back to the 1980s.
The law requires that 30% of brewing sales come from food.
Red Crow Brewing owner Chris Roberts said the amended law would benefit all local breweries.
“It’s more of a rising tide lifting all ships,” said Roberts.
Between keeping federal and state licenses, Roberts says breweries have a lot to take into account on a daily basis. Now, they’re about to cut down one rule to worry about.
“Taking that burden off of the business owner allows them to focus best on what we are good at,” he said, “and that ultimately makes beer.”
To reach the 30% mark, many businesses are partnering with food trucks. While trucks help drive business, Roberts says there are a number of drawbacks.
“If for whatever reason we have a bad night, we still guarantee a certain number of trucks per night,” said Roberts. “If they don’t do it in food sales, we’re obliged to make up the difference in pay.”
Roberts says working with Casual Foodie, his brewery partner truck, is a mutually beneficial relationship, and they will continue to work together.
Duke’s Place Food Truck owners Brian and Vanessa Ward partnered with Pathlight Brewing in Shawnee and wanted to know how the change in law affected their relationship with local breweries.
“It’s just waiting and seeing,” said Brian Ward, “but we’re not worried about it at all because the food truck is moving and we’re doing all kinds of events.”
The change would be a good thing for food trucks too, according to Roberts, as the breweries stay in close touch with each other and recommend trucks to work on.