Iron Hill Brewery Closes Three Locations Including Original Newark Flagship
Mid-Atlantic brewpub chain shuts down restaurants in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey as industry consolidation accelerates
Iron Hill Brewery delivered shocking news to employees and customers yesterday morning, announcing the immediate closure of three locations including its flagship Newark, Delaware brewpub that launched the company nearly 30 years ago. The sudden shutdowns affect restaurants in Newark, Philadelphia’s Chestnut Hill neighborhood, and Voorhees, New Jersey, leaving 16 locations still operating across the Mid-Atlantic region.
part of what CEO Mark Kirke called “ongoing efforts to adapt to a changing business landscape while focusing on strengthening its long-term growth and success.”
The End of an Era
The Newark closure represents a particularly poignant in the history of Iron Hill. The Main Street location would have turned 30 in 2026 and has long served as the “proof-of-concept” when three home brewers—Kevin Finn, Mark Edelson, and Kevin Davies launched the brewery in 1996.
By 2016 in Iron Hill’s 20th year, they had a dozen restaurants, evolving from Main Street in Newark into a regional chain with scratch kitchen and craft beers. Over the past decade, Iron Hill has expanded beyond the Mid-Atlantic region in Greenville, South Carolina, and two locations in Atlanta, including Buckhead that was since closed.
Industry Pressures Mount
The beer industry is still going through a financial overhaul. 21st Amendment announced their closure in the past week after 25 years. As for Iron Hill, the brewery closed locations in Ardmore and Phoenixville PA last year. The company hired a new CEO earlier this year who focusing on growth, efficiency and difficult decisions about underperforming locations.
As Beer Street Journal has reported in the past, the craft beer industry has faced unprecedented headwinds in 2025. U.S. craft brewers produced 23.1 million barrels in 2024, down 4% from 2023, marking the largest volume decline since the 2020 pandemic. Closures outpace openings nationwide for the first time in 2024, ending a run since 2005.
Down but not out
Despite these closures, Iron Hill states they are still dedicated the the brewery and brand at large. “While we are closing a few locations, this is truly part of a larger growth story—we are evolving, strengthening our brand, and positioning Iron Hill for long-term success,” said Mark Kirke, CEO of Iron Hill.
Iron Hill announced it would open its 20th restaurant on Temple University’s campus back in December, with the project being approved by Temple’s board of Trustees. Nothing more has been announced about that project going forward.
Location Losses
The three closing locations closing:
- Newark, Delaware (147 East Main Street): The original flagship location where Iron Hill’s journey began in 1996
- Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia (8400 Germantown Avenue): Opened in 2012 in an upscale neighborhood market
- Voorhees, New Jersey (13107 Town Center Boulevard): Iron Hill’s 10th location, opened in 2013 in a suburban shopping center
Iron Hill Brewery has 16 locations left after the recent closures. Below are pictures from the media preview of Iron Hill Buckhead by Beer Street Journal.