Attention ABQ beer lovers: Marble has a new owner

One of Albuquerque’s original and most well-known breweries will soon have new owners. 

Members of a new ownership group — led by Bert Boyce and Jarrett Babincsak, formerly of Santa Fe Brewing Co. — said in a statement Friday that a management agreement had been finalized and the finishing touches were being put on the purchase. 

The release said the sale would be finalized when liquor licenses were issued for the new owners — expected in the next 90 days. A sale price wasn’t disclosed. 

Babincsak is the former vice president of sales and marketing at Santa Fe Brewing, which first opened in 1988 and now has six locations. Boyce is its former brewmaster.

“Marble’s roots run deep in this community,” Boyce said in the statement. “With a long history of high quality and creative brewing, Marble was not only on the cutting edge of our beer scene but has really provided a home for culture, music and the arts.”

The announcement comes after months of rumors about the potential fate of Marble, particularly on social media, about its possible closure, bankruptcy and the future of dozens of Marble employees. City Desk ABQ was the first to report on what might lie ahead for the 16-year-old business.

Albuquerque’s beer lovers have since been worried that a favorite community gathering spot would significantly change, including the availability of its award-winning beers. It wasn’t immediately clear from Friday’s statement, however, if Marble’s name would change or its beers replaced.

The statement did say that the new owners and Marble officials would “work closely together … to bring stability and support to the organization now, and ensure Marble remains a pillar of the Albuquerque community for its staff and drinkers.”

“The recent outpouring of support has shown us how much love our town has for Marble, and we are honored to guide this organization into a bright future,” Boyce said in the statement. “We are committed to bringing to the team the resources, energy, and

leadership that they need to be successful, and we’re excited to pull our boots on and get to work.”

Marble’s original location opened in 2008 at 111 Marble Ave. NW, just north of Downtown in the Wells Park neighborhood. Craft beer aficionados quickly welcomed the business and its beer. The spot soon became a go-to community hangout for craft beer lovers who had access to a large outdoor patio and frequent live music.

Marble would later expand to two other locations — one in the Northeast Heights and one on the Westside. It has dozens of employees and its beer is also distributed in Arizona, Colorado and Texas.

“Bert and I have long-admired Marble,” Babincsak said in the statement. “We are humbled to lead this organization and excited to be investing in Albuquerque. … And ultimately, create something unique and enduring for Albuquerque and our team.”