The last shutter of 2014 comes from Union Square, where the original location of brewpub chain Heartland Brewery closed its doors after service last night. The restaurant had graced the west side of the park for the past 20 years but a rent hike has finally forced it out, according to Eater.
In fact, the restaurant was supposed to close exactly a year ago but remained open instead. At the time, owner Jon Bloostein told the Post that rent on the multi-floored space would be raised to $2 million per year up from $150,000 when he first rented the space in 1994. That seems to be on par with other increases in the area.
The closure leaves just three Heartland's left in the city, all located in the tourist-dense neighborhoods of Midtown and Times Square. The South Street Seaport outpost was taken out by Hurricane Sandy; another on 6th Avenue has also been closed.
