Axemann Brewery sues landlord, says it could be forced to immediately close
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- Axemann Brewery filed suit alleging lease disputes threaten business closure.
- Landlord Navitus plans patio conversion and CO2 tank removal despite objections.
- Brewery seeks court injunction to prevent operational disruptions during summer.
Axemann Brewery’s relationship with its landlord appears to have soured in recent months, reaching a boiling point Thursday when the popular taproom said in a lawsuit that its operations are in jeopardy.
The brewery said it would be forced to immediately close if Navitus LLC is allowed to shutter the outdoor patio during the summer and remove a piece of equipment that is essential to its operations.
According to an email included in the lawsuit, Navitus planned to covert the outdoor seating into parking spaces and remove a carbon dioxide tank if a Friday deadline for a lease amendment was not met.
No hearings were scheduled as of Friday morning and a Centre County judge had not yet been assigned. Joseph Leahey, of Navitus, declined immediate comment Thursday.
Axemann began using the about 1,600-square-foot outdoor patio space as a beer garden in spring 2021, in part to comply with COVID-19 restrictions that prevented businesses from operating at full capacity indoors.
Attorneys for the business said there is no written agreement for the space and Navitus never indicated it would increase the business’ rent, at least until what they described as a “recent shift in the dynamic and the parties’ business relationship.”
The business said it has offered to discuss what it deemed as “reasonable rental rates” for the outdoor space, but said Navitus has refused to accept an offer other than what it put forward.
Axemann further accused the property owner of failing to coordinate parking, storage and the building’s entry points while new tenants were added. The business said the additional vendors have caused “significant strain,” including on the parking lot that is often full.
The brewery also said it was asked to either remove its pinball machines or request formal approval for their use. Multiple offers to meet and resolve the issues have been “summarily rejected,” Axemann’s attorneys wrote.
“A termination of the Lease would be an enormous operational setback and cause significant and unwarranted financial harm,” Axemann’s attorneys wrote in the filing. “Even more pressing, the sudden closing of the patio during summer and the removal of the CO2 will force Plaintiff to immediately close its business.”
Axemann asked a judge to grant a preliminary injunction that would block Navitus from following through on its plans. A message left with Axemann co-owner Rod Stahl was not immediately returned Thursday.
In a Facebook post on Friday morning, the business wrote that it’s “hopeful we will be able to resolve issues related to our lease and we plan to remain open under normal operations.”
The business is in the seventh year of a 20-year agreement. It pays about $144,500 in rent annually.
The business is scheduled to be open 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Friday.
This story was originally published June 5, 2025 at 5:26 PM.