Katie Mullen's Irish Pub Owner Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

The parent company that operates Katie Mullen's Irish Pub on the 16th Street Mall and its younger sibling, Wee Katie's in LoHi, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on January 26, according to the Denver Business Journal. Northwest Bars Inc. opened Katie Mullen's in 2008, Wee Katie's nearly a year ago,...

By Mark Antonation

January 28, 2016

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Katie Mullen's Irish Pub opened on the 16th Street Mall seven years ago with a lot of promise — and a rave from Jason Sheehan, who'd just been lamenting the lack of good Irish bars in Denver. And in the early days, the bar did a great business — but that was before other spots, including the Yard House, opened on the mall. Earlier this week Northwest Bars Inc. — the owner of Katie Mullen's — filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to the Denver Business Journal. Katie Mullen's also has two younger siblings: Wee Katie's, which opened last year in LoHi, as well as Katie Eile's Restaurant & Pub in Westminster's Orchard Town Center, which opened just over a month ago.

While all three of the Katies are still open for business, Wee Katie's closed its kitchen on January 15. The bar, however, is still open from 3 to 11 p.m. daily, according to its Facebook page. As the DBJ story notes, bankruptcy filings often allow businesses to restructure debt to continue operations. So with a little luck of the Irish, Katie and her sisters could weather these financial difficulties.

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Mark Antonation is the former Westword Food & Drink Editor. In 2018, he was named Outstanding Media Professional by the Colorado Restaurant Association; he's now with the Colorado Restaurant Foundation.

Contact: Mark Antonation

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