Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant abruptly closed all 16 of its locations on Thursday, weeks after permanently closing three restaurants in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The company cited financial struggles as the primary reason for the sudden closures, stating that it plans to file for bankruptcy, according to an email to employees obtained by Breweries in PA.

Founded in 1996 by Kevin Davies, Kevin Finn and Mark Edelson, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant grew into a regional chain known for its craft beers and upscale pub that customers enjoyed dining in for decades.

The patrons learned of the closures Thursday morning through an email titled “Iron Hill is permanently closed” and a Facebook post.

“After many wonderful years serving our communities, all Iron Hill locations have closed. It has been our pleasure to serve you, and we are deeply grateful for your support, friendship, and loyalty over the years,” the statement read. “We sincerely hope to return in the future, and when we do, we promise to welcome you with open arms.”

‘We understand that this news is coming with limited notice’

The company also sent an email to Iron Hill employees, explaining how they had explored alternative options to keep the locations open, including filing for bankruptcy, and providing information about the final paychecks and benefits they may have received from the company, according to Breweries in PA and Delaware Online.

“Dear Team, I hope this message finds you well. It is with a heavy heart that I must announce the closure of all our restaurant locations effective immediately. Due to ongoing financial challenges, the company has made the difficult decision to file for bankruptcy and, regrettably, will be permanently closing its doors,” the statement read.

It continued, “We understand that this news is coming with limited notice; however, we have been working diligently behind the scenes to secure new sources of funding and explore alternative solutions to avoid this situation. Communicating the financial challenges to the Team ahead of time would have compromised our ability to secure the additional funding needed.”

“This decision was not made lightly, and we understand the impact it will have on each of you,” the message read. “We are committed to supporting our team members during this transition and will provide information regarding final paychecks, benefits, and resources for finding new employment.”

One employee learned his location had closed just before his shift

Jake Nowicki, who has worked at Iron Mill for around 13 years, said he was surprised by the company’s Thursday announcement.

“When you find out 10 minutes before your shift, it’s completely disheartening for a company that you spent a lot of time dedicating your emotions and commitment to the customers,” Nowicki said as he stood outside the Wilmington Riverfront location, per Delaware Online. “I think we deserved a little bit more.”

“This company went corporate a couple years ago, and ever since that happened, the corporation has just dissolved any hope of emotional integrity,” he added.

Employees found out about the remaining closures on the same day as the announcement, just like those who learned about the Sept. 10 closures in Newark, Delaware; Voorhees, New Jersey; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

After closing those locations, Iron Hill CEO Mark Kirke initially said the remaining eateries would stay open and that the company was focusing on “long-term success.”

“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,” Kirke said in a Sept. 10 statement obtained by CBS News.

What are customers saying about Iron Hill closures?

Kathleen Adams said her family often dined at the Maple Shade location in Burlington County, New Jersey.

“We had my son’s confirmation dinner here,” Adams told CBS News. “We had a big group, it was a really fun time, so it’s unfortunate because it’s nice to find a local place that’s affordable that has good food.”

Another customer, Skip Michael, also shared fond memories of the location: “It certainly is a surprise. They were very popular here,” he said, per the outlet. “They had very good brews, and it was family-friendly to a pretty good extent, so yeah, we’ll miss it.”

“It be jammed packed in here. I’m very surprised,” Sam Jenkins of Pennsauken, New Jersey, told 6ABC. Jenkins and his wife would visit whenever they were in the area.

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant location closures

Delaware

Wilmington, 620 Justison St.

Rehoboth Beach, 19815 Coastal Hwy.

Pennsylvania

West Chester, 3 W. Gay St.
Philadelphia, 1150 Market St.
Media, 30 E. State St.
Newtown, 2920 S. Eagle Rd.
Exton, 260 Eagleview Blvd.
Hershey, 101 W. Chocolate Ave.
Huntingdon Valley, 785 Huntingdon Pike
Lancaster, 781 Harrisburg Pike
Lehigh Valley, 950 Lehigh Lifestyle Center
North Whales, 1460 Bethlehem Pike

New Jersey

Maple Shade, 124 E. Kings Hwy.

Georgia

Atlanta, 1224 Hammond Dr.

South Carolina

Columbia, 945 Sabal St.
Greenville: 741 Haywood Rd.

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