The announcement, posted Friday on Modern Times' Instagram account, offered little explanation beyond a short statement informing patrons that the North County venue would remain closed "until further notice."
"Hey Friends, We are having licensing difficulties Atm, so the FWL will remain closed until further notice. Thank you for your understanding," the company wrote.
No additional details were provided, and Modern Times did not respond to requests for comment from SanDiegoVille seeking clarification on the nature of the licensing issues, how long the closure might last, or whether the situation involves state or local regulatory agencies.
The announcement comes as a surprise given the company's messaging just one week earlier. On June 8, Modern Times informed customers that the Encinitas venue would be taking what it described as a "tiny pre-summer sabbatical" on June 8 and 9 for "maintenance, calibration, and the occasional ceremonial tightening of a mysterious bolt," promising it would reopen shortly thereafter. Instead, the venue now remains dark.
The closure raises questions about the future of one of the last remaining public-facing components of a company that has spent the past several years navigating dramatic changes. Founded in San Diego in 2013 by Jacob McKean, Modern Times grew from a beloved local brewery into one of the nation's most recognizable craft beer brands, expanding throughout California and Oregon with breweries, tasting rooms, coffee operations, restaurants, and ambitious hospitality projects.
That rapid expansion ultimately proved unsustainable. First McKean stepped down due to allegations of fostering a toxic company environment. Then in 2022, the company entered receivership amid mounting financial troubles and was sold to Maui Brewing Company for $15.3 million. Since then, Modern Times has dramatically downsized its footprint, closing multiple locations and restructuring its operations.
In November 2024, the company permanently shuttered its original Point Loma brewery, ending a decade-long chapter for the San Diego craft beer pioneer. Brewing operations were shifted to a contract model through AleSmith Brewing in Miramar, leaving Modern Times with a much smaller local presence centered around its hospitality, coffee, and tasting room businesses.
More recently, the company has appeared to be pursuing an ambitious reinvention strategy under current operator Duncan Ward. The brand opened Timestead, a retro-futurist pub concept in the former homes of The Local and Resident Brewing in downtown San Diego. It is also building out its new "Cathedral of Caffeination" coffee headquarters in North Park and operating Chronos Hall, an event venue in East Village.
The current closure of the Encinitas location therefore arrives at a curious moment. While Modern Times has been publicly promoting new projects and expansion initiatives, one of its most visible North County locations now appears sidelined by an unresolved licensing issue.
Public records from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control show the beer manufacturer license associated with the Encinitas property remains listed as active and reflects no active disciplinary actions, holds, notifications, or restrictions as of June 20. The records, however, do not necessarily reflect all local permitting, licensing, or operational issues that could affect a business. As a result, it remains unclear whether the closure involves alcohol licensing, business permits, land-use approvals, ownership transitions, or another regulatory matter entirely.
The Far West Lounge occupies a highly visible space at 470 South Coast Highway 101 in downtown Encinitas and has served as Modern Times' primary North County outpost following the company's broader retrenchment.
For now, customers hoping for a reopening date will have to wait. Modern Times has provided no timeline for resolving the issue and has not publicly disclosed what prompted the sudden closure.
SanDiegoVille will update this story if Modern Times responds to requests for comment or additional information becomes available.
Originally published on June 20, 2026.
