The Iron Hill on College Row may soon reopen under new ownership. Late last year, restaurateur Jeff Crivello received court approval to purchase 10 of Iron Hill Brewery’s locations across the U.S., including the Iron Hill location on College Row. Crivello plans to reopen the location within the next few months, but it is not yet known whether the College Row location will reopen under the Iron Hill concept or another brand.
Iron Hill Brewery abruptly shuttered all of its 16 remaining outlets nationwide last September, citing more than $20 million owed to creditors, and filed for Chapter 7 liquidation. During the liquidation process, assets were auctioned off, including the lease for the former Iron Hill location on College Row.
Crivello received court approval for his $12 million bid for 10 former Iron Hill locations, including the College Row location, late last year. Known for turning around restaurant brands Famous Dave’s and Cowboy Jack’s, Crivello said he’s looking forward to reviving the locations, calling Iron Hill’s East Coast base “a great market.” He added that he expected the former Iron Hill in Lancaster to open “within the next few months.”
As of now, Crivello has yet to decide whether the College Row location will reopen as an Iron Hill or another brand. Crivello confirmed the Three Notch’d Brewing brand would be taking over three locations in Delaware and South Carolina, but shared there were no firm plans for the College Row location, noting that “[w]e are determining the best path forward for the remaining seven.”
The former 280-seat Iron Hill location has been a fixture of College Row since the complex first opened in 2007, occupying a prominent corner spot across from the Lombardo Welcome Center. The location operated as a brewpub, serving house-made beer alongside a full food menu. Financial data from Iron Hill’s bankruptcy filings shows the College Row location was among the chain’s highest-grossing restaurants before its closure.
Freshman Milind Gavankar is the News Editor. Their email is mgavankar@fandm.edu.