Grafton Pub and Grill, The

The Grafton Pub and Grill was a comfortable and popular Irish-themed dining establishment located down the street from the Old Town School of Folk Music on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago.  In addition to its Tuesday Night Folk Night and hosting Irish seisiúns, it provided its back room performance space to the 2016 Chicago Maritime Festival.

In “post-Covid” 2022 the owners made this announcement, “This is a tough announcement for us to have ot make, but after thoughtful consideration, we have decided to close The Grafton.  We count ourselves lucky to have been a staple in Lincoln Square for almost 20 years.   We want to thank all of our customers and neighborhood regulars for supporting us over th eyears.  We want to especially thank out valued staff for their hard work and dedication.  It sounds so cliché, but we couldn’t have done it without you guys.  The bar has been at the center of our family for so long, and we will miss it dearly.  We are very proud with what we have accomplished over the past 20 years.  As new chapters unfold for our family and our staff, we hold on to the great memories we have all shared at The Grafton.

“Our last day trading will be this Sunday, August 28th [2022].  Stop in over the next few days for a drink and a farewell.”

“Cheers and thank you, Owners – Malcolm & Andrea Molloy, General Manager – Ambrose Cappuccio.”

From Chicago.Eater.com:  “Lincoln Square: Before Billy Lawless opened the Gage, the Dawson, and Coda di Volpe, he and Malcolm Malloy opened a bar in 2002 in Lincoln Square. Lawless would depart, but the neighborhood continued to rally around the Irish pub with a long beer list and a back room with a fireplace that hosted birthdays, book releases, baby showers — pretty much any special occasion. Though the bar has evolved from when Guinness was considered the only craft beer option on a local bar’s tap, the Grafton remained a strong part of the area. But COVID has kept customers away, and this summer was particularly devastating to business for current owners Malcolm and Andrea Molloy. According to a tweet, the bar will close on Sunday, August 28 at 4530 N. Lincoln Avenue. For Lawless, who wasn’t reached for comment, this marks the end for two of his old bars. The Irish Oak, also under new ownership, closed in July after 24 years in Wrigleyville. The Malloys and Lawless remain friends.”