LISBON — Olive Pit Brewing owner Christy Cain has announced that she will close the town’s only craft brew pub in the fall, saying the economy is soft and people are feeling the effects.

“Discretionary spending has just gone away,” Cain said last week. “People are just concerned about the uncertainty in the economy.”

The brewery will stay open through September on a limited basis, for event nights that have become popular, such as open mic every Wednesday, and some Saturdays, with local bands that are booked such as The Smith Collaboration and Kaiju.

“We will still do our tea dances, which are the first Sunday of every month,” Cain added.

Cain will maintain updates on events on her website and Facebook page.

Cain said she’s been watching the slide in revenue for some time before she made the decision to close. “It’s been 15-16 months that sales have been down 40% consistently, with the most recent March and April being our slowest months ever.”

After years of expansion, the craft beer industry has plateaued nationwide. Last year — for the first time since 2005 — the number of craft brewery closings nationwide (501) outpaced openings (434), and the total number of breweries also dropped by 67 to 9,680, according to the Brewers Association.

The group said there are 157 craft brewers in Maine, producing 9.5 gallons per adult, ranking third in the country.

Cain was the first to open a 100% woman-owned brewery in Maine.

Olive Pit Brewing opened at 16 Main St. on New Year’s Eve in 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The next year saw a major downtown construction project that decimated auto and foot traffic as the streets and sidewalks were torn up to replace sewer and water lines.

Businesses organized a block party and other events to generate downtown traffic, but the construction was a major setback for businesses.

Cain’s journey to the world of craft brewing came after working in retail for many years at Dick’s Sporting Goods, Barnes & Noble and Starbucks, where she held management positions.

It was on her birthday in May 2019, sitting around a fire pit near Acadia National Park, that Cain decided she was going to open a brewery.

Her style of beer is different from what’s most prevalent in Maine — hops forward — so she brewed more malty brews that are less bitter.

Cain bought the building at 16 Main St., which has rental apartments upstairs, a large parking lot, and overlooks the Androscoggin River.

“I live in the community, so I’ll still be here. And, you know, try to continue to be involved in promoting community and connection, and in other ways that I can find,” Cain said.

“I’ve made so many friends and connections to the community through having this space that I wouldn’t trade for the world.”

Olive Pit Brewing has two distinct commercial spaces, with one already leased.

 “I already have an agreement with Highbrow Industries, a cannabis company, to use that space to package their seltzers and beverages,” Cain said, adding she’ll be looking for someone to lease the taproom side starting in October.

She said that fear kept her from doing things that were hard or even scary. Her advice is to keep persisting.

Cain’s takeaway from nearly five years owning her own business has a specific audience. “One of the messages I’ve always wanted to share, particularly with young girls, is don’t let the hard scare you.”