Fitzpatricks is closing!
Well I was surprised to learn today that Fitzpatricks of Iowa City is closing! It was in the Press Citizen this morning. Here is all of the relevant part of the article:
Walding said Fitzpatrick’s also is facing a suspension due to alcohol violations, but has indicated its intent to close permanently.
“They are closing May 25,” he said. “They’ll turn in their license and they’re out of business.”
Owner Gary Fitzpatrick decline to comment for the story
I can only wonder what will happen now. I am usually quite reserved about what I say about other breweries in Iowa, but I think I can safely say that everyone I know thinks this is a GOOD thing. The beer at Fitzpatricks was inconsistent, and even if it was OK, it did not live up to the potential of the 500,000 dollar brewhouse that was in place. Last year he hired a new brewmaster, but I have not noticed a real difference in the beer.
I hope they sell the place to someone who really knows what good beer is. I feel the place has potential. The food was pretty bad too, I remember ordering a salad, and getting a bowl of steak and cheese with a little bit of lettuce at the bottom. There seemed to be no effort made to pair the food and beer together.
The place is an awesome location though, and it should be able to do very well in the right hands.
The reason that the are closing is that they have been fined more than once for underage drinking. This is something that they have known for in the past. Also, I hear that the owner, Gary, received a DWI in the last few months. He may also still be in debt, I know that he had alot of trouble reopening after having spent so much money on the renovation (the new brewhouse plus some very nice black walnut paneling) of the expansion.
The downside is that we are minus one more brewery in Iowa. The Granite City breweries don’t count, because they are ‘zombie’ breweries that have no brewmasters. What Iowa needs is more brewery interaction, where we can hold festivals, etc together. This year I guess that the Iowa City beer festival will have only two local breweries, us and Cedar Brewing in Cedar Rapids. Perhaps Dave Coy from Raccoon River in Des Moines will show up, and Dan from Blue Cat in Moline…. That will make a total of four local breweries!
Of course, I would rather have less breweries, than have local breweries pouring sour beer at the fest.
In other news, I hear that it is unlikely that the Des Moines Brewfest will happen this year, since the City is refusing to allow them any space to actually hold the festival. Every year the City has moved the festival, because it is ‘too noisy’. God forbid we disturb anyones sleep in downtown Des Moines at 10pm on Saturday night! They say they want to revive downtown Des Moines, but they apparently don’t want to support any form of drinking…
Well, does anyone want to open a brewpub in Iowa City? I would love to, but I have my hands full here in Amana 
Update: Tonight I saw Gary on the evening news. He said that he already has someone in mind to sell the business too. So way may only see a change of hands for the business…