Pour one out for a fixture in the Philly food scene.
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant announced the closure of all of its 19 locations on Instagram and Facebook Thursday morning. The restaurant, known for its local, craft beer menu and pub bites, has been a staple in the city for the last 29 years.
“It’s been our pleasure to serve you, and we are deeply grateful for your support, friendship, and loyalty over the years,” the restaurant wrote.
A print-out version of the message appeared on the door of their location on Market Street.
The abrupt announcement comes on the heels of recent news that the brewery was closing three locations in Chestnut Hill, Voorhees and Newark, Del.
(Photo by Ben Bennett)
The restaurant’s CEO, Mark Kirke, made a statement that those closures would be “truly part of a larger growth story,” just two weeks ago.
The announcement was also made right ahead of the brewery’s planned Oktoberfest celebrations this Saturday. Online comments reacting to the news spanned from shock to glib reactions noting a decline in quality.
“The Iron Hill brand was pretty strong like 10 years ago,” wrote one Reddit user. “The food was either great or terrible. The beer was meh but consistent. I hope the workers will find new employment quickly.”
The shuttering of the Iron Hill Brewery in Center City in particular is a blow to the Market East area. The restaurant sat adjacent to an empty District Taco, which has been closed for over a year now. The Wawa location next door also shut down a few years ago.
An anonymous worker at the Center City location shared a message with the Inquirer from Iron Hill’s management team, informing of the closures effective immediately at 8:30 a.m.
“Due to ongoing financial challenges, the company has made the difficult decision to file for bankruptcy, and, regrettably, will be permanently closing its door,” the email said. It was not signed and sent through Restaurant365, the company’s scheduling platform, according to the Inquirer.
As of Thursday afternoon, the tables and chairs inside the restaurant were still there. Three employees were clearing out a kitchen service cart with food, but unavailable for comment.
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant began 1996 from Delaware home brewers Kevin Finn and Mark Edelson. Last year, the company announced plans for a new location on the Temple University campus that never opened.
Iron Hill will close its locations in Center City, Exton, Huntingdon Valley, Maple Shade, Media, Newtown, North Wales, West Chester, and Wilmington, in addition to the three previously reported.
The restaurant’s social media announcement ended on a bittersweet note.
“We sincerely hope to return in the future, and when we do, we promise to welcome you with open arms. With gratitude, The Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant Team.”
The post Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant announces closure of all its locations appeared first on Billy Penn at WHYY.
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