Iron Hill Brewery reopens in Center City Philadelphia, more locations "coming soon"

Iron Hill Brewery is back open in Center City, marking a major comeback months after the company filed for bankruptcy and abruptly shut down all 16 of its locations last fall.

The location along Market Street reopened Sunday, drawing a mix of returning employees, loyal customers and out-of-town visitors eager to see the local brewery return.

"This is glorious," said Matt Gundrum, the brewery's director of operations.

Gundrum said the closure was hard on staff.

"It was a giant shock," he said. "None of us saw it coming."

Gundrum, who started as a server and has spent 20 years with the company, said he is grateful to have his job back. He said several dozen other former employees also were rehired. 

"Having everybody back in the building and being reopened to the guests of Center City — it's been such a dream," he said.

Customers returning on opening day said the brewery holds a special place for their families.

"I saw the sign out front that they were reopening, and I got so excited," Temple student Sophia Kitsch, 21, said.

Her father, Ken Kitsch, said they made sure to grab a reservation.

"We knew it was the first day, so we had to come down here," he said.

The pair said Iron Hill has long been a gathering place for their family.

"We'd always meet up as a family, do trivia, have some nachos, get a burger," Sophia Kitsch said.

The reopening also drew attention from visitors in town for the Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America at the Pennsylvania Convention Center across the street.

"I checked into my hotel, and I look out the window, and I see Iron Hill Brewery, and I got so excited," said Etienne Bourgeois, who traveled from Florida. "As a former brewery owner myself, it's great to see people get back into the business."

Under the new ownership, some changes come with the reopening.

A company spokesperson said old gift cards can no longer be honored due to the loss of historical data during the transition, which created an inability to authenticate gift card balances. However, customers who bring in an old gift card will receive a complimentary appetizer and beer.

The company has also launched a new loyalty program, "Iron Insider," automatically adding points to accounts from previous programs.

"We want to make things right with our loyal members," Gundrum said.

The brewery is also debuting a new beer called "Unfinished Business," a nod to what Gundrum said is the company's future.

"Because we have unfinished business in this industry," he said.

Gundrum said the company plans to open four more locations across the Delaware Valley in the near future, with Wilmington expected to be next. The locations in Huntingdon Valley, Lancaster and Hershey are also listed as "coming soon" on the brewery's website.