photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World
The site of Black Stag Brewery & Pub, 623 Massachusetts Street, is pictured on Oct. 27, 2025.
News and notes from around town:
• Lawrence’s robust craft brewery scene became a little less so this weekend. Black Stag Brewery & Pub, 623 Massachusetts, ceased operations on Saturday.
“We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who visited, shared a meal, and raised a glass with us over the years,” the pub’s website reads as part of an announcement regarding the closing. “Your support, laughter, and friendship made Black Stag more than just a brewery and pub–it became a gathering place filled with memories we will always cherish.”
The brewery opened in February 2019, according to an article I wrote about the new venture. The owners took the ground floor of an old office supply store — M&M Office Supply, if you are keeping track — and turned it into not only a brewery but a full-service restaurant.
The opening also was seen as a boost to Lawrence’s unofficial effort to be the Craft Beer Capital of Kansas. The city certainly can still make a case for that title — Free State Brewery, Lawrence Beer Company, 23rd Street Brewery and Fields & Ivy Brewery all remain. In its brief online announcement, Black Stag’s operators didn’t provide details of whether the local craft beer market is taking a downturn or if other factors came into play.
There certainly has been some national news of a downturn in the craft brewing industry. The New York Times reported earlier this month that sales of craft beer fell 4% last year, according to the Brewers Association, which represents small and independent brewers. The article also reported that there have been more brewery closings than openings in the last 18 months. That’s the first time that has happened in 20 years.
Whatever was the case with Black Stag, the closing is one among many in the downtown district. I have heard from members of the local real estate community that the coming months might produce a few more downtown closings. We are in a period where many five-year lease periods are set to expire, which historically is a time for some turnover.
The block that Blag Stag was located in might be ground zero for closings, currently. In that block alone, Starbucks, Claire’s, Globe Indian Food, and Winfield House furnishings have all recently closed.
photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World
A Goodstop by Casey’s is pictured Aug. 13, 2025 at 23rd and Harper streets in eastern Lawrence.
• If your beverage choice trends more towards cheap fountain drinks than craft beer, you might be wondering if the previously-reported plans for a new eastside Casey’s convenience store are still accurate. I’ve been wondering that too, but there is new reason to believe that Casey’s indeed is following through on its plans to convert an existing convenience store at 23rd and Harper streets into a full-blown Casey’s.
Lawrence City Hall in recent days has received a building permit application for $800,000 worth of construction work at the existing convenience store at 2220 Harper Street, which is the current home of a Goodstop by Casey’s.
We reported in August that Casey’s was planning to convert that Goodstop into a full-line Casey’s store within about a month. A big part of the conversion is adding a full-kitchen to the location, which will allow it to sell the pizzas and other food items that are a big part of the offerings of a Casey’s. With a building permit now filed, that conversion project should be underway shortly.
photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World
The QuikTrip at 23rd Street and Haskell Avenue is pictured in this October 2025 photo.
• Perhaps we will see rival convenience stores jousting along 23rd Street because there is indeed another significant convenience store remodel planned for the corridor. (I picture jousting with foot-long hot dogs off the roller grill, rather than lances)
The QuikTrip at 23rd and Haskell has filed for a building permit to undertake about $125,000 worth of improvements to the kitchen inside that convenience store. It is an educated guess on my part, but it looks like the improvements are geared toward expanding the store’s food offerings into the wonderful world of fried cuisine. A new fryer and vent hood were listed as part of the planned improvements.
That tracks with developments happening at other QuikTrip locations across the region. The Tulsa-based chain has added chicken strips, chicken wings, french fries and several other fried foods to its menu of offerings. Newer stores, like the one at Ninth and Iowa streets, have had those options for a while, but older stores are getting upgraded to accommodate the new menu, it appears.
