This Beloved, TV-Famous Bar Is Closing Forever

As the pandemic persists, many small, independently-owned businesses continue to go under, as most are working at half-capacity or less and are receiving minimal to no financial support from the government. Now, even well-established, renowned eateries and bars are going down, the latest to join the list is the iconic Cheers bar in Boston.

CEO Markus Ripperger announced that the bar, which is a replica of the one that’s showcased in the famous ’80s sitcom “Cheers” would be closing on August 30 after two decade’s worth of business. The owner told CBS Boston affiliate WGME that the landlord refused to forgive rent when the bar had to close during the shutdown in the spring. As a result, he had no choice but to permanently shutter its doors for good. And to stay informed on new restaurant and bar closures, sign up for our newsletter).

The Boston-based bar joins a lineup of other iconic, high-profile establishments that have closed due to coronavirus such as Gotham Bar and Grill and Momofuku Nishi, both of which reside in New York City. According to Yelp’s Economic Average report for the second quarter of 2020, more than 26,000 restaurants and bars have permanently closed since the onset of the pandemic, many of which are located in the nation’s epicenters for fine dining and night life: New York City and Los Angeles.

In May, owner of Manhattan’s famed Eleven Madison Park, Daniel Humm admitted he wasn’t sure if he would be able to reopen his restaurant in a post-pandemic world, saying it would take millions of dollars to reopen. More recently, chef Dan Barber of Blue Hill at Stone Barns announced that the restaurant would be shifting gears come 2021. The upscale establishment located in Pocantico Hills, New York that’s known for its fancy six course-meals (and was featured in season one of Chef’s Table on Netflix) and will now be home to a chef-in-residence program.

Unfortunately, more closures are anticipated to come as the year progresses, so support local businesses both big and small as much as you can. For more, check out 100+ Comfort Food Recipes That Will Soothe Your Soul.