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Longtime Crown Heights bar Franklin Park — which announced its permanent closure after 12 years last December — isn’t closing after all. The bar made the announcement on its Twitter page on Sunday, March 21, and owner Matthew Roff confirmed the reopening to Eater via text message.
The bar is now open Monday through Friday from 4 to 11 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 12 to 11 p.m. Currently, Franklin Park is only offering seating in its outdoor garden, but Roff said he has plans to reopen the smaller bar first followed by the front counter room.
Back in December, the bar didn’t provide a reason for its closure, and noted at the time that the establishment’s burger spot, Dutch Boy, would remain open despite the bar shuttering. Roff has since told Eater that in December he just didn’t know if he’d have enough to pay his landlord or cover his other bills, as indoor dining remained on pause and outdoor seating was increasingly difficult due to the cold weather.
Roff says he always hoped he’d be able to reopen again and subsequently reached a new agreement with his landlord that has now allowed Franklin Park to reopen. He adds that he’s also buoyed by the recent change in weather and is optimistic about the future. “We are crossing our fingers for good weather this spring and summer,” Roff wrote in a text message. “We hope the landlord continues to support us. We will do our best to be as successful as possible in this climate.”
Over the years, Franklin Park has established a reputation for its affordable beers, juicy burgers, welcoming vibes, and communal tables in the outdoor garden.
The bar now joins a growing list of restaurants in the city that have been able to reopen after initially announcing closing plans, including Queens Italian favorite Il Triangolo, and East Village Ukranian diner Odessa, which initially announced plans to close, but the owner then said the restaurant was renovating with hopes to reopen this year. Others like tonsoku destination Hakata Tonton have reopened under new ownership.
