USA, PA: Goose Island Brewhouse in Philadelphia’s Fishtown neighborhood closes down for good

The popular Goose Island Brewhouse in Philadelphia’s Fishtown neighborhood has permanently closed after two-and-a-half years of operation, the latest fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, the Philadelphia Business Journal reported on December 5.

The 10,500-square-foot brewpub announced the shuttering late on December 4 via its Facebook and Instagram accounts. Goose Island Beer Co. is based in Chicago, and has been owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev since 2011. The company wrote Covid-19 has had a "significant impact" on its Philadelphia business.

Goose Island Beer Co. opened its Philadelphia concept at 1002 Canal St. in spring 2018. The local brewhouse was well-trafficked by Philadelphians across the city, Fishtown residents and people attending shows at neighboring music venue Fillmore Philadelphia. The project includes indoor space as well as a large outdoor seating area.

Rivers Casino Philadelphia, Philadelphia Distilling and the apocalypse-themed restaurant Mad Mex also stand near to Goose Island Brewhouse.

Goose Island Brewhouse is situated across the street from the planned 35,000-square-foot Brooklyn Bowl entertainment complex that expects to open by the end of 2021. That development comes from the New York-based bowling company in partnership with Live Nation Entertainment Inc.

Fans of Goose Island Brewhouse took to social media to lament the closure.

“Now it’s official - worst year ever!” one Facebook user wrote. “You guys were our Friday nights, our work happy hours, the first place we brought our newborn son, our go to during covid!! My heart is shattered!”

"We are so sad to hear this news," an Instagram user wrote. "We have LOVED the time we spent at Goose Philly playing music, enjoying the atmosphere (and the amazing brews!!!) The staff has always been kind, helpful, and fantastic!!!!"

The closure is among the latest in a wave of permanent shutterings that have washed over the region’s hospitality industry due to the pandemic. Other concepts that have permanently closed recently include Chef Tyler Akin’s Res Ipsa, Stephen Starr’s Continental Restaurant and Martini Bar in Old City, and Trattoria Giuseppe in Newtown Square.

06 December, 2020