A popular Midland drinking hole is shuttered for good, a victim of the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beer Garden closed its doors earlier this month after five years in business. It was a heartbreaking farewell to bid for proprietor and founder Jorge Hernandez Jr., who started the establishment following a failed attempt at building a wedding venue.
“Originally I was supposed to build a wedding venue and I couldn't get anyone to build the building that I needed under budget so I ended up taking my seed money and building a beer garden with my dad,” Hernandez told NewsWest9.
Beer Garden has been a staple of Midland nightlife and a viable source of income for Hernandez, which was why closing it was a tough decision.
On May 1, Gov. Greg Abbott initiated his two-phase plan to reopen the state’s economy. Retail stores and restaurants were given the green light to operate at limited capacity, but bars are to remain closed.
Hernandez may have closed Beer Garden, but he hinted at the possibility of reviving it in another form.