Downtown Salem Icarus Wings and Things women's sports bar to close. Here's why

Icarus Wings and Things will close a year after the downtown Salem women's sports bar opened, the owners have announced.

Icarus will have its last day on April 7, the same day as the college women's basketball championship for the NCAA Tournament.

Co-owner Kelli Gilliland hopes the turnout will be a great, big "last hurrah" for the gluten-free chicken wing restaurant and bar that is the first of its kind in Salem. The venture also serves fried mushrooms, Southern-inspired side dishes and sandwiches.

The spot is owned by Jonathan Jones, owner of Epilogue Kitchen and two-time James Beard Foundation Award semifinalist, partner Maura Ryan, and friends Kelli and Aaron Gilliland.

Gilliland said the operation had been unsustainable since it opened and closing it had been on their minds the last couple of months. The owners contributed out of their own pockets to help the operation but are unable to continue doing that. To be sustainable, the restaurant had to make 20-25% more per month, according to Gilliland.

In January, Gilliland had posted on Instagram how the restaurant was in need of more local support. The post caused an increased "blip" for a few weeks, but the numbers eventually dipped again.

Gilliland said she did not believe a lack of interest in women's sports "caused" the closure and cited an overall struggle in the local restaurant scene.

"I hate calling (Icarus) a failure even when we're closing," Gilliland said. She said she felt the restaurant and bar being in Salem brought women's sports more into the conversation and "got folks exposed to the inequities in men and women's sports and provided a safe place to watch games."

A large part of the operational budget was actually finding and paying for women's sports TV packages. Gilliland said it cost $1,000 a month to show women's professional and college sports because of having to subscribe to multiple streaming services.

The post on Instagram announcing the closure said while the current iteration of Icarus will be closing, the owners are considering how to bring it back in other ways.

Gilliland said making Icarus a pop-up for special events is an avenue they are considering.

Icarus merchandise will be discounted and patrons are encouraged to use gift cards before the bar and restaurant closes. People who donated memorabilia to decorate the space can have it returned upon request.

"It's hard to put it all in one post, but from the bottom of our hearts we want to thank all of you who have come in and supported us as much as you were able," the post announcing the closure said. "Make sure you get out in Salem and support all of the amazing women's teams that we have locally, as they deserve all the support."

To follow additional updates from Icarus, check out the website, icaruschicken.com, Facebook and Instagram page, @icarussalem.

Hours: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m., Thursday to Saturday; noon to 7 p.m., Sunday

Address: 130 High St. SE

Em Chan covers food and dining at the Statesman Journal. You can reach her at echan@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @catchuptoemily.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem women's sports bar Icarus Wings and Things to close