Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant is making its way back to Hershey’s West Chocolate Avenue, with the longtime brewpub slated to reopen on Monday, June 1. The comeback will bring on-site brewing, scratch-made food and neighborhood programming back to a downtown that lost the chain when all locations abruptly shut last fall. Managers say the revived restaurant will stick with Iron Hill’s fan-favorite dishes and beers while layering in local hiring drives and community-minded events. For residents and visitors who still crave the brewpub’s cheesesteak egg rolls and house-brewed IPAs, the return is a clear sign the brand is mounting a comeback.
Iron Hill’s Hershey revival is part of a phased reopening the company has been rolling out across the region. As reported by CBS News Philadelphia, the Hershey news follows earlier reopenings and several planned restarts at locations that previously went dark.
From bankruptcy to a staged comeback
The chain abruptly shut down all of its restaurants in the fall of 2025 and later entered liquidation, leaving staff reeling and a trail of large, empty restaurant spaces across multiple communities. The trademark and a group of leases have since been picked up by a new ownership team, which brought the Center City Market East location back in April as the first step in rebuilding the brand, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. That reporting describes the effort as a partial relaunch that zeroes in on higher-performing sites.
New beer, jobs and community focus
Local coverage says the Hershey spot will roll out a location-specific East Coast juicy IPA dubbed “Kiss of Hops,” and that the company plans a private benefit dinner before the doors officially open, with proceeds supporting Cocoa Packs, a Hershey nonprofit. The Hershey general manager told reporters the relaunch is expected to bring roughly 90 jobs and will spotlight on-site brewing, scratch-made menu items and a regular slate of neighborhood events. Those details were outlined by WGAL News 8.
Where else the brand has returned
The Hershey opening follows a run of early returns: the Center City Market East location reopened in mid-April and a Wilmington location followed in May, with Lancaster and Huntingdon Valley also listed among the sites set to come back in the weeks ahead, according to local coverage. Taken together, those reopenings suggest the new operators are concentrating on the chain’s top-performing markets as they rebuild operations. For regional timelines and updates, see abc27/WHTM.
What to know before you go
Iron Hill’s corporate site now lists Hershey among its active locations and shows that reservations will be available through OpenTable for opening-day service. The company has also been collecting local applications as it staffs up. For current hours, menu information and hiring details, the brewery’s Hershey page remains the key source to track: Iron Hill Brewery.
Iron Hill’s return to West Chocolate Avenue gives Hershey’s dining scene a timely boost as summer tourism heats up, adding another option for locals and visitors alike. Community leaders and neighborhood groups will be watching to see whether the reboot honors former staff and loyal customers while helping steady the downtown restaurant landscape.
