Hooley House restaurant in Copley Township closes with little notice to customers, workers

The Hooley House Pub & Grille in Copley Township closed abruptly Sunday, leaving customers and employees wondering why.

The Irish-themed sports bar had been busy Saturday, an employee who asked not to be identified said Monday.

"We're all trying to figure it out still," said the employee. "(We) found out yesterday."

The employee said workers weren't given much information Sunday about the closing or advance notice that it would be shut down.

"Just that, that we were closing down," the employee said.

Employees, however, were told they could apply to work at the restaurant's four other locations, said Hooley CEO John Reece, a co-founder of the small chain.

Terse message to customers about Hooley closing

In a message to customers on the Hooley House web site, the company provided few details on why the Copley restaurant closed: "This location is closed. It was a pleasure serving you. Please visit our other locations to get your Hooley on."

A sign with a similar message was posted on the door of the restaurant.

Reece said in a phone interview Monday that a combination of factors led to decision to close.

"I can tell you we agonized over this," he said. "This has been a very difficult decision. We loved it here."

Reece said the size of the restaurant, a challenging time in the industry and a lease negotiation led to the decision.

"We have been here for ten years, and we are at the end of the lease," he said. "I (couldn't) get myself to sign another extension of the lease based on the economics at the time."

The closing comes about a week after Outback Steakhouse closed its Montrose location, along with an Outback in Findlay. Recently, a Town Tavern restaurant opened in the township's Montrose area, which is a hub for commercial and food establishments.

Hooley House also operates locations in Mentor, Brooklyn, Strongsville and Westlake. It was founded in 2008 by Reece and Ward Lawson. It features Irish-themed food such as the "Hooligan" and "Nutty Irishman" burgers and Irish egg rolls. The company recently changed its name to The Hooley Pub & Kitchen, according to its website.

Reece said the restaurant's 35 full- and part-time workers were given a week's pay to help soften the blow.

"Employees are really what makes a place," he said.

In addition to customers and employees, the closing caught a band scheduled to perform on St. Patrick's Day by surprise.

"Hey guys, we regret to inform you that the Hooley House in Montrose just informed us that they have permanently closed their doors at that location," The Flyin Jays posted on Sunday. "So obviously our St Paddy's show is cancelled."

'Hate to lose a good establishment'

The employee who did not want to be identified said there were no signs the Montrose Avenue restaurant would close. It had been open more than seven years, he said.

"We were doing great. Just had a busy day Saturday," the employee said. "We were busy all day and (we) come in Sunday and we were closed. It was great restaurant."

Copley Township administrator Janice Marshall said the township didn't receive any advance notice of the closing.

"I'm very sympathetic to the (employees)," she said. "A sudden closing is never a good thing for anybody involved. We certainly hate to lose a good establishment."

Reece said his company is considering another, slightly smaller, location in the area and said the other Hooley locations will remain open.

Leave a message for Alan Ashworth at 330-996-3859 or email him at aashworth@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Hooley House in Copley closes Sunday after brisk business on Saturday