Coop homebrew supply
By Mark Tumarkin

Over the last several years, the homebrewing hobby has gone through a belt-tightening period. One of the results of this is that a number of local homebrew supply shops have gone out of business. This happened right here in Hogtown. First, Ray closed the Hogtown Brewer, and then Deena Bray opened and subsequently closed her brew supply shop. Following is a report from So. Cal. about an innovative response from the homebrewing community to this problem.

Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2002 10:31:46 -0800
From: "Wayne Holder" 
Subject: Invitation To All Brewers



Grand Re-opening - Homebrew shop, Stein Fillers, goes nonprofit.

The California Fermentation Society* would like to welcome all brewers to
attend the grand re-opening of Stein Fillers brewing Supply in Long Beach,
CA.

Stein Fillers homebrewing and winemaking supply store is under new
management, with a portion of profits going to a scholarship fund for the
support of  brewing science.

Date: March 2
Time: 11am - 6pm
Where: 4160 Norse Way, Long Beach, Ca. 90808
Phone:  (562)-425-0588
What:
    Brewing Demonstrations
    Food
    Homebrewed beer tasting
    Red Tag Sale


Customers of local homebrewing and winemaking supply stores have seen many
other similar stores go out of business and came up with a plan to save this
one in Long Beach.  This type of niche business is a something between a
cooking store and a hobby shop and when the owner told them he wanted to
leave the business, the customers got together and formed a nonprofit corporation* 
to manage and take over the business.  It is now a reality and the new owners are 
ready to celebrate the grand re-opening.

The new group knows that this type of business is not very profitable, but
as a Public Benefit Corporation they now are not under pressure to turn a
profit. They also decided that any moneys left at the end of the year could
be set aside for a scholarship fund to educate those who would be interested
in pursuing a career in brewing or winemaking.

      *California Fermentation Society -  Mission Statement:

      This corporation is a nonprofit public benefit corporation and is not
organized for the private gain of any person. It is organized under the
Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for charitable purposes. The
specific purpose for which this corporation is organized is to educate the
general public in the art and science of grain and fruit based fermentation.
The means of providing such education includes, but is not limited to,
maintaining a retail shop for the purpose of providing access to materials,
supplies, educational information, and awarding an annual scholarship.


For more information see our web site at http://www.steinfillers.com

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