Crown Heights Beer Garden Franklin Park Closes After 12 Years

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — Neighborhood favorite Franklin Park served up its last beers this week.

The Saint Johns Place beer garden announced Sunday that it would be closing its doors for good after 12 years in Crown Heights. The bar's neighboring restaurant, Dutch Boy, will stay open for takeout and delivery, according to the posts.

The closure, first reported by Eater, is the latest New York City restaurant to close this year as the industry suffers the financial strain of the coronavirus crisis.

Franklin Place had recently set up a fundraiser for its workers after struggling to overcome debts from a two-month closure during the pandemic.

"We opened back up in late May of this year, and did our best to push through our summer—what was supposed to be our money season— was cut into a quarter of what we would normally make," the bar wrote. "We've reached the point in our finances, where we are looking to the community for help."

The GoFundMe, which raised about $6,000 of its $100,000 goal, is still open online.

Bargoers were quick to mourn the loss of the beer garden on its social media pages.

"Franklin Park has called Crown Heights its home for almost 13 years, and in that time, we've grown to be a part of this neighborhood," the bar wrote on its fundraiser. "We've grown to get to know each other, and share a space where we can feel acceptance and comfort."