Rock Bottom Brewery in Campbell Closes Suddenly After Decades of Service

A longtime Campbell favorite, the Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery at The Pruneyard, has abruptly shut its doors, leaving behind decades of memories, loyal regulars, and more than 45 employees suddenly out of work.

Michael Sandvig, one of the restaurant’s first hires nearly 30 years ago, was among those blindsided by the closure. Sandvig, a bartender who became a familiar face to generations of guests, described the news as devastating. On Wednesday morning, staff were informed by the restaurant’s parent company, Kelly Companies, that operations would cease that same day.

“There was no notice,” Sandvig said. “Some of these people I’ve been serving since day one, and I’ve seen their kids grow up.” Corporate reportedly stopped ordering food and paying vendors a week prior, but employees were not given any advance warning.

The closure follows Kelly Companies’ acquisition of the chain just seven months ago. Several workers were told the decision stemmed from a rent increase. However, a spokesperson from Regency Centers, which owns The Pruneyard, disputed that claim, saying rent was not raised. Instead, Kelly Companies had requested rent relief with specific terms attached, but no agreement was reached. As a result, Regency Centers asked the company to vacate the space.

The sudden shutdown has left employees like General Manager Margaret Robertson grieving more than just the loss of a job. Hired in 2022, Robertson described the work environment as warm and deeply personal — “like the show Cheers, where everybody knows your name.”

Robertson, a single mother of four, now faces financial uncertainty. She also worries about her staff, including longtime server-bartender Dolly Savaii, who worked at the restaurant for 11 years and became emotional when discussing the closure.

“We all believed it could turn around,” Robertson said. “We were hopeful Rock Bottom would become what it once was.”

The decline, according to Sandvig, began when the new ownership altered the restaurant’s identity — replacing its curated beer selection with mainstream brands like Bud Light and Michelob Ultra. For a place once known for its craft brews, the change didn’t sit well with regulars.

One such regular, Dean Jenco, had been visiting Rock Bottom for nearly two decades. He and a group of friends watched Pittsburgh Steelers games there every Sunday, often joined by his 84-year-old mother. The tradition grew so strong that Jenco created a Facebook group to stay in touch with fellow fans. He dined there up to three times a week, favoring the Texas fire steak and Winchester Red beer, a house specialty.

“You felt like you were at home,” Jenco said. “The staff knew your name, your table, and your story — and they shared theirs too.”

Rock Bottom’s departure marks another challenge for The Pruneyard, which has seen other businesses struggle in recent years. Last year, Pruneyard Cinemas narrowly survived a major rent hike.

As the lights go out at Rock Bottom, it leaves behind a legacy of community, camaraderie, and continuity that staff and customers alike hope future tenants will somehow honor.