Green Dragon's Ed Schwartz on Rogue Takeover
Apparently the news we broke of Rogue’s intention to acquire the Green Dragon Pub and Bistro raised quite a stir. In John Foyston’s article about this yesterday in the Oregonian, it was mentioned that it sounded like “(I) didn’t talk to the Rogue Folks.” This is true. In fact, being a lesser known resource than the big O, we often don’t get the press releases or inside scoop on a lot of the local beer happenings. I tried to comment on the Beer Here’s blog, but was unable to do so. What I wanted to let people know is that I made attempts to contact Rogue and the Green Dragon. Rogue sent a vague letter from their “Attorney General” (lawyer), Brian Schweppenheiser demanding a retraction and clarification. Schweppenheiser wanted me to clarify that “no employs have been fired.” I didn’t say anyone had been fired. I reported that “Officially no one has been fired but no one is expecting to have a job and they already have new people lined up.” Schweppenheiser also asked me to clarify that “no employees at the Green Dragon have been fired, we do not have new employees “lined up”, the proposed purchase is not final and is subject to regulatory approval, the Green Dragon will not be closed down for 3 days. It will not be closed at all.” Schweppenheiser continued: “while it is true that we export Rogue Ales, Stouts, Porters, and Lagers to 19 countries, it is not accurate that “many feature repackaging of other available brands.” We make special bottles (Red Fox, White Crane, and Brown Bear) in Japanese for our long-time importer, bar owner, and Japan craft beer pioneer Phred Kaufman. All other Rogue Nation countries offer the same beers made available in the U.S.A.- no “repackaging” at all.” When I sent a follow-up email to Schweppenheiser for my own clarification, my message was ignored. I asked him “Why don’t you clarify what is really going on with Rogue and the Green Dragon so I can let people what is up. Also, I know for a fact that you repackage your beers such as the Jazz Man, the Saturday Market Beer, and a number of the Aquarium series beers which are simply other Rogue beers with different labels. Is this not true or are websites like Ratebeer.com and BeerAdvocate.com wrong about this?” Thusfar, no response. We also received a comment on the post from Brett Joyce, current president and son of founder Jack Joyce, announcing the demand for retraction and clarification, restating the same bulletin points as sentiments of his lawyer. Joyce also commented “So, the rumors are true that there is a proposal, but nothing concrete. Glad to hear the staffs jobs are safe for a little while. Everyone at the GD always treated me great, sad to see it go.” What is that supposed to mean? “Safe for a little while”?! How long is a little while and isn’t he the president of Rogue? Most people’s fears echoed in the comments of this blog appear to be that of what Rogue will do to the establishment and its labor once they have control of assets. Joyce, from this perspective could be interpreted as making it sound as if the Green Dragon is the one who would be responsible for job cuts. Hmmm.
So, after a day of anticipation to talk to a human being about what is really up with this situation, I was able to speak with Ed Schwartz, majority owner of the Green Dragon. Schwartz appeared up front and cordial about the goings on with the deal, and has always come across to me as a straight shooter. I interviewed him this morning and he put some perspective on things from his end. Schwartz said “I am looking to sell (the Green Dragon). I have gotten some amazing surprises to change occupancy. When we opened it was 49.” When I asked him what the current occupancy is, Schwartz was unclear whether it is 49 or 98. “(Occupancy) needs to be 200.” Apparently after toiling with the city, a struggle for many business owners, especially when dealing with alcohol, Schwartz seems tired, frustrated, and in financial upheaval. “I just got a call from the city and they another $50,000 in fees” said Schwartz. “For what needs to be done, is going to cost $220,000. I don’t have it. Here’s the deal: the only way the company has been going on is by me putting $10,000 into it. I am trying to do what’s best for the employees.” According to Schwartz, however Rogue, as a potential buyer views the Green Dragon as “over-staffed by five people.” To accommodate this issue, if Rogue buys the company, people would be forced to move to Flanders (Rogue’s current Portland ale house location). Said Schwartz “The only people to lose a job would be those who are hung up.” From his tone, I wasn’t certain if Schwartz was truly confident in Rogue or in dire need of a quick financial fix. “The whole reason Rogue is doing this is they don’t want to make it a typical Rogue Place. I mean, they don’t want to completely take over and make it Rogue. The idea is to keep all the current guest taps and install an additional twenty taps for (Rogue) beers.” Schwartz seems to genuinely care about the welfare of his staff. “I am trying to do what is best for the employees” said Schwartz. So what is the timeframe on a potential changeover to Rogue? “We’re looking at Wednesday-ish.” he said “There will be no interuption of service but if and when it goes through, (Rogue) will shut it down for a few days.” As of right now: “Nothing has been signed.” May the Schwartz be with you.
About The Author
Angelo
Angelo grew up in Maine and is proud to call New England his original home. Cascadia is now his home. He fell in love with great beer in Oregon, Washington, and Northern California. He has been a correspondent for the Portland Tribune's Guest on Tap column, LivePDX.com, and has been featured in publications such as Beer Northwest and PDX Magazine. Angelo also has a great interest in independent music, and has been a booker and organizer for shows around the Portland under the name Pop Tomorrow! Angelo garnered much knowledge regarding beer from his experiences homebrewing, working at Belmont Station, Pyramid Brewing, Upright Brewing, By the Bottle, Beer Revolution, Olde Depot Public House, Falling Sky Brewing, Cascade Brewing, and from many many knowledgeable, passionate, and loving people along the way. It is Angelo's mission to bring "infotainment" and "edumation" to the readers of this website. If you have any questions or comments, or would like to contribute, please contact me at angelo@brewpublic.com
If Rogue kept everything the way it is including staffing and Lolo still being brewer/part owner and *added* 20 taps, I’d be pretty satisfied with those terms of the GD changing ownership.
But overstaffed? Please. If they want table service they’re going to have to add staff.
Wow. This blog, and those leaving comments, really come off as nobodies trying to be somebodies. If I didn’t fully understand the difference between a journalist and a blogger I sure do now.
All that’s happening here is that the Portland beer scene is looking like a bunch of whiny snobs. That’s not what Portland beer is all about. Knock it off.
Take a step back and be happy that you live in one of the best places on earth if you love beer. Trying to make Rouge out as some sort of evil anti-Portland beer entity is just stupid.
You got that right. You are reading a journalist. Happy to help you make that distinction. Thank you for reading. This is awesome that someone calling themself “TacoGirl” reads my online beer newspaper, I mean blog.
In Portland we’re not “whiny snobs”…we’re “beery S.N.O.B.s”
@TacoGirl: What is Portland beer all about? I NEED TO KNOW!
Agreed that the “over-staffed by five” makes no sense. If anything, the GD could use additional staff at peak hours.
At any rate, trying to stay optimistic about all this. Also, wondering how this affects Integrity Spirits…
@TacoGirl: Please, enlighten us..what IS Portland beer all about? Rogue isn’t being compared to Walmart…the GD was just very unique..and this change will somewhat tarnish it’s uniqueness. If you don’t understand this..well..then..I’m sorry.
Angelo, I think you’ve done the right thing all around. You are one of the only non-pro bloggers in town that does original reporting, and I commend you for having contacted the personalities involved directly (challenging though those interactions must have been) and getting the straight dope right from the source. And … you broke what is a surprisingly big story locally! Pat yourself on the back, man!
I went to journalism school, and “journalist” is nothing more than a job title. There’s no licensing board. There are good journalists and bad, and having gone to school for one doesn’t impact that outcome much one way or another.
Keep up the good work.
Oh, and you’re also good enough to use your real name in your reporting, which I appreciate.
*dances on tenterhooks waiting for TacoChump to enlighten us as to the Portland Beer scene*
Overstaffed? I love the knowledgeable and friendly folks there, but I also know that table service on a busy night is going to take a while, because if anything there are not enough of them!
I think some hobbits said (sang) it best:
Oh, you can search far and wide
You can drink the whole town dry
But you’ll never find a beer so brown
As the one we drink in our hometown
You can keep your fancy ales
You can drink ’em by the flagon
But the only brew for the brave and true
Comes from the Green Dragon
In his first draft, Tolkien scribbled ‘F*CK ROGUE’ in the margin.
I approve Angelo’s message. Thanks for yor hard work! Cheers, LoLo.
Me give you taco kisses tacogirl, Angelo is doing EXACTLY what a great journalist should be doing and you know why we are S.N.O.B.’s because every now and then weI’ll leave town and have to drink shitty beer at some shitty bar, and it’s at that point we’d give anything to hear some guy at the end of the bar bitch about the quality of beer, staff and management, you’d take the bitching with a little more pride and chuckle if you weren’t sipping on a dead guy all the time… Keep up the good work whiners… If you can whine yourself into nirvana, why the fuck not, your mom forgot to spoil you didn’t she… You can have backbone and be picky, by the way thank you for your clarification on bloggers and journalists… We commend your valiant efforts in standing up for what you believe in… Now go drink good beer at the green dragon and bitch at somebody about how your beer good be better for me.
Angelo,
While I am bummed out it didn’t work out with me as owner –I am grateful to Rogue for stepping in and doing the things that we could not. With the city requiring the building to be sprinkled, doors to be inset, walls to be built separating the brewer–the extra 50k in CBC fees and the completion of the brewery(another 50k or so) we are faced with either be closed or allow someone who wants to continue on with what we have started. I opt to, for the good of the customers, employees, Founders Club to allow Rogue to run with it. They are doing Portland and Green Dragon customers a favor by keeping this institution alive. I’d give them a break and see how things develop –their reasons for stepping in, as I understand it, are that they too fell in love with the Dragon and want to take what we started (19 rotating taps etc., meet the brewers nights, etc) and run with it.
I think emotions run high due to our feelings for the Green Dragon. Mine certainly are as well. In my dealings with Rogue I have gotten a sense that their heart is in the right place on wanting to take care of the customers, employees (providing them with health insurance and matching 401k which I could not) and Founders Club – If anybody has questions about anything—I’ll be in this Tuesday for Meet the Brewer and would be glad to answer any specific questions then.
Lastly, it wasn’t Rogue that said we were overstaffed, it was me. With the beer patio closing for the year, our employees aren’t getting enough hours. It was their idea to shift some of them to Flanders to get them the hours they need.
Cheers,
Ed Schwartz
Green Dragon Brewpub
Declaration of War
We the minority owners of The Green Dragon, the little people, the Founders Club, the loyal patrons who love the Dragon so, openly declare war on the oppressive forces of the Rogue Nation. We make this Declaration in response to Rogue’s direct attack upon the Dragon.
For those who do not know, Rogue is seeking to execute a hostile take over of the Dragon. This takeover is against the wishes of the masses. Our pockets may not be deep, but our hearts are, and our numbers many.
I implore you to visit Rogue’s website and read their creed, their declaration of independence and what they believe in. Their creed makes many claims about the beliefs and values of the Nation. If you read the creed you will see that the Nation’s actions are in direct violation of their creed. Due to the Nation’s direct violation of their creed we request that all members of the Nation, who believe in what Rogue allegedly stands for, to stand with us in our new revolution. We encourage you to act in some sort of symbolic protest. Perhaps all members of the Nation who are against the Treasonous acts of their leaders, mail or deliver their Nation ID’s back to Rogue. Ghandi was at the forefront of non-violence protest, the art of Satyagraha—the résistance to tyranny through mass civil disobedience. Join us!
Rogue claims to be a small revolution. They aspire to be a successful organization “without being big.” Rogue claims they will “stand up to the big guy trying to bully his way into whatever business or territory he wants.” They claim Rogue will be “David.” In Rogue’s “Fundamental Agreement” they make many claims such as: “they will be honest on the battlefield, and most important “cut out the BS.”
The Nation further believes as stated in their “Declaration of Independence” that the members of their nation “are endowed with certain unalienable Rights, that among these Freedom of Expression, Absence of Bull Shit, Variety, and the pursuit of Beer with Taste. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituting among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the Consumers: that when any Form of Government becomes destructive to taste, Expression, Quality, or Fun, it is the right of the Consumers to alter or to abolish it and to institute a new Government.” Further, they declare that all members of their Nation shall “of Right ought to be Free and Independent.” Well Rogue, we the Consumers, we the family of Green Dragon, wish to abolish you from our nation.
The leaders of the Nation need to take a long look in the mirror. There they will find a bunch of hypocrites. They are a large multi-national corporation, seeking to take down the little guy. I am certain this backdoor sneak attack, an undercover theft of the Dragon, is not “honesty on the battlefield.” The Dragon’s alleged crime: trying to build a place for the neighborhood, a place where friends and family can drink good beer and food at reasonable prices. We the family of the Dragon truly represent David and we will take down the Goliath known as Rogue. If they truly believe the claims they make on their website, they will lay their arms down and leave the battlefield. If you, the leaders of the Nation surrender now, we many revolutionaries will take no further action, you will be allowed to return to your homes. However, you will get no spoils of war from us.
Just like the founding fathers based at the Original Green Dragon, who formed a revolution to crush the British, we also will spill Rogue’s Tea. The Founding Fathers of the United States wrote in their Declaration of Independence: “When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal stationed to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the cause which impel them to separation.” (July 4, 1776). We, the many of the Dragon, are equally stationed, our opinions dictate and require that you remain separate. Two separate nations free to do what they desire.
This aggression will not stand….man (“The Dude”)
“Let us cry havoc and release the [dragons] of war.” (William Shakespeare and his dogs)
Signed—
The Many. The Proud. The family of the Dragon.
Seems a bit underhanded, not all the owners are on the same page. Negotiations are needed to ensure all the owners and the founders are taken care of. Bigger is not always Better.
Ed,
Are things finalized? If 100K+ were to fall into your lap would you still go this route? I’ll be in tonight around 7:30pm if you’re still there I’d like to talk. I’m not anti-Rogue or anything (they’re just running a business) but the GD *is* something special and we’d be losing something unique.
Darin
As to what Brian Schweppenheiser stated above, “we do not have new employees “lined up””. This is quite an ambiguous statement. Is it not true that people have been “lined up” to replace the General Manager, The Chef, and the Sous chef, as well as eliminate the position of the dishwashers? It is true that no one has been fired. Some people whose positions has been eliminated, or they have been replaced, were lucky enough to be offered a nice position down in San Francisco, and Eugene. Thanks Brian! Your generosity will not go unnoticed.
The Green Dragon is uniquely portland and was one of the best run places I’ve been too. Being sucked into the Rogue machine is going to tarnish that and that is unfortunate.
The staff there are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met and the thought that they are being “reorganized” is truly sad for us all. Lets hope the quality of service and guest taps remain through the transition.
I did stop by there last night and what I found obnoxious was that my receipt had the word “Rogue” in GIANT letters while the green dragon was in a tiny font underneath it. Maybe a metaphor of things to come.