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JuneShine creates beverages by brewing hard kombucha and canned cocktails with real, premium ingredients. Based in San Diego, CA, the company distributes its products through retailers and online channels, generating revenue from direct-to-consumer sales and retail partnerships. Their drinks are produced using transparent ingredients and sustainable brewing practices, aiming to offer a lighter, seemingly healthier alternative to traditional alcoholic beverages for health-conscious consumers. The key differentiators are a focus on real ingredients, sustainability, and transparency, appealing to a niche market that values quality and honest labeling. The goal is to provide a trusted, better-for-you option in the alcohol space while expanding access through multiple sales channels.
Industries
Food & Agriculture
Social Impact
Consumer Goods
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
Growth Equity (Venture Capital)
Total Funding
$30M
Headquarters
San Diego, California
Founded
2018
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Total Funding
$30M
Below
Industry Average
Funded Over
3 Rounds
Health Insurance
Unlimited Paid Time Off
Flexible Work Hours
Paid Sick Leave
401(k) Company Match
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Family Planning Benefits
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Dental Insurance
JuneShine, a San Diego-based hard kombucha and canned cocktail brand founded in 2018, is closing its final two tasting rooms on 28 August. The locations in Scripps Ranch and Santa Monica mark the end of the company's brick-and-mortar operations. The closures follow previous retrenchments. JuneShine shut its Brooklyn taproom in 2024 and ceased in-house brewing in March 2026, closing its brewery and cutting 24 jobs. The company had invested $24 million in 2019 to acquire and convert a former Ballast Point facility. JuneShine's products will remain available online and through retailers including Walmart, Target, Whole Foods Market, and Total Wine & More. The company emphasised it is not exiting the market entirely, only shifting away from physical locations.
'Honest alcohol' company JuneShine closes last physical locations. By Fernanda Tronco TheStreet Updated August 12, 2026 6:20 AM Gift Article A once-fast-growing beverage brand is making a major retreat from the physical spaces that helped build its identity and exiting an entire part of its business. After years of expansion, the company is closing its final brick-and-mortar locations and has already shut down the facility where it once produced its beverages. The moves mark a significant shift for a brand that built its reputation on an in-house manufacturing approach and a growing physical presence. Founded in 2018 in San Diego, California, JuneShine started as a homemade hard kombucha brand before expanding into canned cocktails. JuneShine is closing its last tasting rooms. JuneShine built its brand on the concept of "honest alcohol for a healthier planet," targeting health-conscious consumers by offering clean, environmentally sustainable ingredients. The company will close its two final company-owned tasting rooms on Aug. 28, ending the company's brick-and-mortar operations. The affected locations include: * JuneShine Scripps Ranch: 10051 Old Grove Road, San Diego, California * JuneShineSanta Monica: 2914 Main Street, Santa Monica, California "This was certainly not a decision that came easy, but the right one for what's next," JuneShine wrote in an Instagram post. The company has not shared plans to open another physical location. However, JuneShine said its products will remain available online and through retailers, including Walmart, Target, Whole Foods Market, and Total Wine & More, according to its website. "Rest assured, JuneShine isn't going anywhere. You will still find us on shelves, at your favorite watering holes, and out in the real world," the company added. The closures, therefore, mark a change in how JuneShine operates, rather than an end to the brand itself. JuneShine has already reduced its physical footprint. The decision to close the final tasting rooms follows several changes to JuneShine's operations over the past several years. In 2019, JuneShine acquired the former 30,000-square-foot Ballast Point brewery in Scripps Ranch, turning it into a flagship brewery and taproom. The company invested $24 million in the project. In 2020, JuneShine confirmed plans to relocate its San Diego tasting room to a new 2,000-square-foot space in North Park at The Jackson on 30th Street. The tasting room ultimately did not open. Two years later, JuneShine expanded beyond California by opening a taproom in Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood. That location closed in 2024. The company's manufacturing footprint then underwent a more significant change in March 2026, when JuneShine ceased in-house brewing, shut down its brewery, listed the facility for sale, and eliminated 24 jobs. The move shifted production to third-party manufacturers as JuneShine sought to improve efficiency and profitability and focus more heavily on product development and brand expansion, SanDiegoVille reported. Now, with its final two tasting rooms scheduled to close, JuneShine will no longer operate company-owned physical locations. Why JuneShine is moving away from physical locations. JuneShine has not publicly provided a detailed explanation for why it is closing its final tasting rooms. However, the move comes after a broader restructuring of its physical operations. The company has already moved away from owning and operating its own brewery, instead relying on third-party manufacturers to produce its beverages. Closing its tasting rooms could further reduce the fixed costs and operational responsibilities associated with maintaining physical facilities. For smaller beverage companies, owning production facilities can require significant investments in equipment, labor, maintenance, and real estate. Outsourcing some or all production can allow a business to shift those responsibilities to specialized manufacturers, although the financial impact can vary depending on a company's scale and manufacturing arrangements. Operating a taproom or brewery can also come with significant real estate and build-out costs. Specialized equipment and building requirements can add to the expense of opening and operating these businesses, according to Wooden Hill Brewing Company. JuneShine's recent moves suggest the company is placing greater emphasis on its beverage products and retail distribution rather than maintaining company-owned facilities. That shift could give JuneShine greater flexibility to concentrate its resources on product development, distribution, and brand expansion while relying on outside partners for manufacturing and retail distribution. For consumers, however, the change means JuneShine's remaining tasting rooms will soon disappear. The brand itself will continue through its online store, retail partners, and other locations where its beverages are sold. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc. This story was originally published August 12, 2026 at 6:07 AM.
JuneShine closes final tasting rooms in San Diego, Santa Monica. JuneShine, the San Diego-based hard kombucha brand, is closing its final company-owned tasting rooms in Scripps Ranch and Santa Monica, effective August 28. This decision marks the end of JuneShine's operations in brick-and-mortar locations, following the earlier shutdown of its brewing facility in San Diego and the closure of its Brooklyn taproom. In an announcement on social media, JuneShine described the closures as difficult but necessary for the company's future direction. Customers will have one last opportunity to visit during an event dubbed "The Last Splash." Founded in 2018 by University of San Diego alumni Greg Serrao and Forrest Dein, JuneShine initially gained popularity as California's first organic hard kombucha brewery, quickly expanding its presence across the state. The company's ambitious growth included a prominent brewery and taproom in Scripps Ranch, which was part of a broader strategy fueled by $24 million in investments. However, these plans shifted as JuneShine faced challenges, including the early closure of its Brooklyn location after just two years of operation. The brand has transitioned to a leaner model, outsourcing production to third-party manufacturers and putting its former brewery on the market. Despite these setbacks, JuneShine remains committed to its brand presence, assuring consumers that it will still be available in retail outlets and bars. The closure of JuneShine's tasting rooms comes amid a broader trend of food and beverage establishments in California facing challenges. Similar to other local closures, such as the recently shuttered Point Loma Denny's, these developments reflect the evolving landscape of the state's dining and drinking scene. Why this story matters: * Highlights the ongoing challenges faced by beverage companies, particularly in the hard kombucha market. Key takeaway: * JuneShine is shifting focus from a physical presence to a brand-centric model, leaving behind its tasting rooms. Opposing viewpoint: * Some consumers may feel that the closures undermine the social and community aspect that brick-and-mortar locations provided.
JuneShine to close Santa Monica location this month, adding to Main Street's dining/retail woes. The announcement adds to a string of dining and retail closures along Main Street this year. By Zach Armstrong Hard kombucha brand JuneShine will close its Santa Monica tasting room later this month, adding to a slate of Main Street storefronts that have halted operations in 2026. The Southern California company opened in Santa Monica at 2914 Main St. in 2021, three years after its founders conceived of the business upon brewing kegs of Blood Orange Mint, a flavor which the brand still produces. The Westside brick-and-mortar features a white interior, the company's line of alcoholic drinks poured from bamboo levers and a small event space in the back. In its announcement, the company alluded to the decision as not being easy, but "right for what's next", while its website states that it is "expanding quickly" with "new locations." The Santa Monica tasting room's last day of operations is Aug. 28. The announcement adds to a string of dining and retail closures along Main Street this year. Holey Grail Donuts shuttered its location in March, posting signage that a Canadian dessert chain will take its place. In April, Blow Me Candle Co., known for its handmade candles and cheeky products, relocated from Main Street to a nearby location on Berkeley Street. Further along the brick-and-mortar-centric street, in Venice, the CVS retail store situated below the neighborhood's famous Ballerina Clown statue closed last month. "Our tasting rooms helped build this brand," the company stated on social media. "They've been the backdrop to unforgettable days and legendary nights, celebrating everything from life's biggest milestones to its cherished little moments. An everyday joy that made you feel at home." For Los Angeles' westside, JuneShine's Santa Monica tasting room was known as a hotspot for DJ sets, birthday parties, trivia game nights and other community events. Consumers of the hard kombucha brand took to social media to express their disappointment at the announcement, with many sharing memories. For example, girlgroup Los Angeles thanked the tasting room for great memories, describing it as a space that "basically became our book club HQ." One customer commented, "The locations may close but the memories are forever."
At Claranor, Claranor SA is proud to collaborate with JuneShine, the leading US producer of natural fermented beverages, to ensure optimal decontamination of metal cans while preserving product quality.
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Industries
Food & Agriculture
Social Impact
Consumer Goods
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
Growth Equity (Venture Capital)
Total Funding
$30M
Headquarters
San Diego, California
Founded
2018
Find jobs on Simplify and start your career today