[3] As of November 2019, CraftWorks owned and operated over 390 restaurants in the United States,[4] but all of its owned-and-operated locations closed by March 2020, after a Chapter 11 bankruptcy followed immediately by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, and CraftWorks terminated its 18,000 employees, leaving fewer than 25 employed.

[6] The first Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant was opened in Palo Alto, California on July 6, 1988.

[12] Rock Bottom Restaurants laid off about 20% of its corporate staff in 2007[13] and slowed its growth plans along with ceasing its search for an equity partner.

The chain's menu includes mesquite-grilled steaks, traditional American fare (sandwiches, soup, salads, and seafood), ice-cold longneck beer, and homemade yeast rolls.

[16][17] However, Fortress Credit later withdrew a $23 million loan for continuing operations; it then agreed to fund $6 million to finance continuing operations,[5] and on April 1, 2020, CraftWorks terminated nearly all 18,000 of their employees and terminated health care benefits as of March 31, 2020.

The chain's menu includes mesquite-grilled steaks, traditional American fare (sandwiches, soup, salads, and seafood), ice-cold longneck beer, homemade yeast rolls, and unlimited buckets of in-shell peanuts.

Franchise partnerships under its Old Chicago brand account for 36 additional locations not owned or operated by CraftWorks.

[19] In 2000, the Boston-based Brew Moon Enterprises Inc. filed for bankruptcy and sold four of its five restaurant-microbreweries to Rock Bottom.

[22] Rock Bottom Restaurants won Brewpub Group Brewer of the Year award at the 2013 Great American Beer Festival (GABF).