KALAMAZOO, MI -- A Kalamazoo draft beer-to-go business has closed permanently after pictures went viral last month of one of its two owners doing a Nazi salute and smiling with a swastika on his forehead.

The assets of the year-old business, Craft Draft 2 Go, are now for sale.

Aaron VanArsdale has not reopened Craft Draft 2 Go, at 4520 Stadium Drive in the University Commons retail center, since Aug. 15 when he found himself at the center of a social media firestorm.

He was inundated with claims that he is a Nazi, a Nazi sympathizer, a white supremacist and/or a racist. Some Facebook users told others to boycott his business, derogatory graffiti was spray-painted on the pub's windows, and plans were being made for people to protest in front of the business.

VanArsdale said he also received some death threats.

As a result, the 43-year-old said he was not sure he would ever be able to reopen.

He said he is not a Nazi, a racist or a white supremacist. He said the pictures of him were posted on Facebook following a 2011 football tailgating party and they were meant in humor.

But an Indiana man said he was offended by antisemitic statements VanArsdale had made in an online conversation with him earlier. And as the story gained national attention, a story in Forbes.com called VanArsdale a closet racist who was "outed" by the postings he had made.

VanArsdale acknowledged that he is not always politically correct, that he has an unusual sense of humor and that he has said some bad things. But he said he was amazed by people's reaction. He said the Facebook images were posted six years ago but got little attention until people became enraged by the violent confrontation a few days earlier (Aug. 12) between white supremacists and counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Va.

He said he felt he was being made a target of that anger.

He said the six members of his staff quit the day after his postings went viral. They feared the social media backlash and feared for their personal safety, he said.

An announcement on the Craft Draft 2 Go website simply states that the business has closed. Co-owner Shayne Sherman is referenced as a contact for parties interested in buying the operation.

The statement reads:

"As you may know, Craft Draft has been through some recent turmoil and has chosen to close indefinitely. The offending party has been completely removed from this business and is no longer associated with it in any way."

An outside investment group "has seized ownership and is fielding offers to sell the business as a completely turnkey taphouse," according to the statement.

Among other things, the assets of the business include its Michigan Class C liquor license (with an SDM that allows sales to-go and Sunday morning sales).

Attempts to contact Sherman, an Indiana man who had previously been a silent partner in the business, were not successful. VanArsdale had been the day-to-day manager of the craft beer pub.

In its statement, the business thanked loyal customers, saying, "We sincerely apologize to everyone for this incident and accept full responsibility. Please know that the investors in no way share similar views to those that have been shared in the media."