A staple of Indianapolis' Mass Ave cultural and gastronomic scene, Nine Irish Brothers, has closed its doors without warning, leaving regulars to discover a short note of thanks taped to the entry of the esteemed establishment. Reports from FOX59/CBS4 reveal that a sign simply stating, "Thank you for your patronage," marked the restaurant's abrupt closure, removing a locale that once thrived on St. Patrick's Day energies and sold favored dishes such as Tiger Mike's Fish and Chips and Willie's Bangers and Mash. Despite this, the owner's challenging personal year which included a family death cited in a farewell note left much for contemplation and two other central Indiana locations remain in operation.
Long-time patrons expressed a sense of loss and nostalgia, with Adriana Rubio, who voiced her connection to Nine Irish Brothers through a FOX59/CBS4 interview, lamenting the absence of its culinary offerings, especially the chips she can no longer enjoy, Rubio also noted the business's magnetism during holiday celebrations when "They had everybody on staff working. They brought in a lot of business." To compound financial woes, a lawsuit for unpaid debts was revealed through court documents, showing a New York-based lending company seeking reparations of $25,000 alongside additional fees and damage costs for the establishment’s failure to honor payment agreements.
A community sentiment was echoed from the Mass Ave Cultural District, which reflected on the pub's departure by saying that "beloved establishments close, as they contribute to the community’s character and atmosphere," as mentioned in a statement obtained by FOX59/CBS4.
Nine Irish Brothers served for over a decade as a significant element of the local fabric, and the entrepreneurial spirit that fuels the arts district was celebrated despite the unfortunate closure. Two other locations of the establishment in Lafayette and West Lafayette continue to serve patrons, with Google listings for the closed Mass Ave location denoting it as "permanently closed" and official mention of it removed from the company’s website, as noted by 13News and WRTV.
In the wake of the shuttering, reactions of locals have been collected, featuring mixed emotions over the loss, no formal explanation was provided by the establishment’s management for the sudden closure, although inquiries have been initiated by 13News. Those who reminisce about the warm environment and also about the hearty Irish fare that defined the Nine Irish Brothers experience can still visit the brand's Lafayette and West Lafayette spots, even as the Mass Ave location joins the annals of local history.
