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Hennessy’s petitioned to transfer its liquor license to Bar 23, a Grill 23-spinoff restaurant coming to Seaport next year.
Scotland soccer fans stand outside Hennessy’s bar in Boston during halftime of the England vs. Croatia World Cup game on June 17. Sophie Park/The New York Times
A nearly 30-year-old landmark Irish pub in Boston has called its last call.
Hennessy’s Bar, located at 25 Union St. near Quincy Market, marked its final day Tuesday.
“As we close this chapter, our hearts are overflowing,” the bar wrote on Instagram. “Thank you to every customer who pulled up a stool, every employee who made this place feel like home, and every friend who walked through our doors over the last three decades. You gave this place its soul.”
Hennessy’s has petitioned to transfer its liquor license to Bar 23, according to the city’s Licensing Board agenda for July 16. The transfer requires approval from the Licensing Board and the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.
Bar 23, a smaller version of steakhouse Grill 23, is expected to open next year at 11 Fan Pier Blvd. in Seaport, The Boston Globe previously reported. The 75-seat restaurant will feature a steak-focused menu inspired by its Back Bay counterpart.
Hennessy’s operates under Somers Boston Restaurants Inc., which also owns the Green Dragon and Durty Nelly’s, both next door to Hennessy’s, as well as Mr. Dooley’s in the Financial District.
A downtown Boston fixture for nearly three decades, Hennessy’s blends traditional Irish food and beer with live music, weekend DJs, and themed nights. The pub was voted “Best Irish Bar in Boston” for six years in a row, according to its website.
“Generation after generation made Hennessy’s their place,” the bar said. “It was where birthdays were celebrated, old friends reconnected, new friendships were formed, and ‘I’ll just stay for one’ somehow became closing time … Through every chapter of life, Hennessy’s became more than a tavern — it became a tradition.”
The closing comes just weeks after Hennessy’s became a popular World Cup gathering spot as Scottish soccer fans packed the pub during the tournament.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better final celebration than the incredible energy and memories we shared during the World Cup,” the bar said. “What a last hurrah it was! The laughter, the cheers, the packed house — it was everything Hennessy’s has always been about.”
The bar concluded its post by thanking patrons.
“While the lights may dim and the doors may close, the memories will never fade. They’ll live on in every story that starts with, “Remember that night at Hennessy’s … From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for 30 unforgettable years. It has truly been the honor of a lifetime.”
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