Royal Oak's Roak Brewing Co. Not Reopening Taproom Monday

ROYAL OAK, MI — While several Royal Oak eateries will be able to open their doors to indoor guests for the first time in months Monday, a well known local brewery has announced its taproom will be remaining closed.

Royal Oak's Roak Brewing Co. taproom will not be joining other eateries and bars across Michigan in opening Monday, the brewing company announced on social media. The brewing company announced on Facebook that Roak beer will be brewed at its Marshall, Michigan, facility and will still be available.

"To all our loyal customers and fans, we have made the difficult decision that ROAK's taproom will not be reopening as of February 1st," the brewing company said in a Facebook post Sunday. "However, ROAK beer will now be brewed in our Marshall, Michigan facility.... Still available at all your local retailers ....so continue to look for it in the marketplace!!

"We are TRULY humbled at the loyalty and support we've received over the years and want to thank the City of Royal Oak, our customers, fans, and awesome staff for everything!!"

Roak Brewing Co. opened in 2015. The company offered a mug club for local drinkers, according to The Detroit News, and added on Facebook that it would be posting times on Monday that customers would be able to visit the taproom to collect their mugs.

Indoor dining and service have been prohibited across Michigan for several months, beginning when Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced statewide health restrictions in November 2020. That order took effect on Nov. 18 but was extended several times before the governor announced on Jan. 13 that she was aiming at allowing restaurants to reopen to indoor service on Feb. 1.

In January, state health officials said businesses would be able to reopen indoor service on Feb. 1.

As of Saturday, 559,241 cases of the coronavirus had been confirmed in Michigan. The state also reported Saturday that 481,801 people in the state had recovered from the coronavirus.