Seed + Stone Cidery/Lucky Buzz Meadery announces June closure

Citing irreconcilable issues with Hungerford Building landlord, Rochester's only urban cidery/meadery said it will soon close.

I’m really hoping this type of bad news doesn’t come in threes. Because this Rochester cidery/meadery became the second craft beverage producer to announce a closure Monday morning.

Seed + Stone Cidery, which opened its production spot in June 2018 at 1115 E. Main St. before adding a street-level tasting room the following year, said it will close its doors on June 21 due to a number of different factors. That includes ongoing issues with the landlord of the Hungerford Building, the sprawling arts-friendly complex, where Seed + Stone has resided since opening. Many other tenants have left the complex as the conditions continue to deteriorate under property owner Peter Hungerford. (My comrade Gino Fanelli documented these horrifying conditions in an expertly reported WXXI story earlier this year.) Difficult economic conditions were also cited in the announcement.

A few years after opening, Seed + Stone added mead to its mix (and eventually rebranded as Lucky Buzz Meadery) and then welcomed an ownership change when Andrew Gleason and Matt Carlson took over in 2023. They purchased the business from Bill Bly and Bly Travers.

Gleason and Carlson thanked patrons for their support, stating they “were beyond grateful for each and every one of you who has walked through our doors, enjoyed our ciders, meads, and supported us along the way. Whether you stopped by for a crowler fill, shared a draft with friends, or attended one of our events, your support has meant the world to us.”

When it opened, Seed + Stone was the first cidery within the city of Rochester in probably over 100 years. Previous research showed other cider producers, probably not of the hard variety, when digging through city directories from years past. Either way, it felt like reaching back into the past when it opened and the Hungerford was the ideal spot for it to plant roots.

Gleason originally started at Seed + Stone as assistant cidermaker and then gained experience behind the bar. He learned a ton from original owner/cidermaker Bill Bly, especially letting the ciders age for at least three months, if not longer, before packaging. That approach showcased many of the dry and traditional ciders produced there. As he spent more time behind the bar, Gleason began pondering opening his own spot. Originally, he wanted to open a brewery. But then he started consider what it might look like if he followed his fermentation passion and focused on different beverages.

“I had dreams of opening my own place, and then I was looking at the reality of opening my own place and the logistics of that are challenging,” Gleason said to me in an earlier interview with a heavy sigh, a telling laugh, and a weary smile. “I needed help. And they (Bly and Travers) welcomed me into their taproom. And that was a side of the business I didn’t know anything about, interacting with people, retail sales.

“I jumped in and it was a lot of fun.”

Enter Carlson. Carlson was looking for a partner as he explored buying the business. And Gleason was the perfect option. As I wrote in 2023, “It was luck, really, that brought Gleason and Carlson together. That makes the name even cooler and more fitting.”

Gleason and Carlson did leave the door open for someone adventurous enough to revive the brands. They wrote in their shared statement on social media that:

We believe that both the Seed + Stone Cider and Lucky Buzz Mead product lines are of the best quality, and would love to see them continued. If you or someone you know has an interest in purchasing the brands, recipes, or equipment we would love the opportunity to support you any way we can. Please send any inquiries to SeedandStonecidery@gmail.com.

Ultimately, it’s exceedingly sad to see a part of the Rochester craft beverage scene fabric shutter. Like the beer world, hard cider isn’t immune to shifting tastes of consumers, particularly Gen Z members who are drinking less and less alcohol. Andy and Matt (and before them, Bill and Bly) put their hearts and souls into making Seed + Stone a special place. It has always been a comfortable spot to hang out and the ciders and meads have been excellent. For those of us seeking less sugary, drier cider options, Seed + Stone delivered beautifully. It put the focus on locally grown heirloom and bittersweet varietals and really let the apples shine. I know I learned a lot from this place and will miss it dearly.

A final note: It’s pretty wild to think I’ve been working on this independent publication for over two years now. In that time, I’ve published nearly 250 newsletters, highlighted some of my favorite people in the industry, curated two beers festivals (that featured 150 participants and 4,600 attendees), and continued to break all the biggest news in the region (closures, consolidations, openings, etc.).

The Cleveland Prost remains the preeminent source for regional beer news. If you own a brewery, bar, or beer-adjacent business, this is the best place to reach the nerds you wanna be in front of. So I remain open to sponsorships, advertisements, and sponsored content. Feel free to reach out to me at clevelandprost@gmail.com for more. And more than anything, thanks for all the support. None of this would be possible without the devoted (and thirsty) audience.