Isaac’s Craft Kitchen & Brewery, a cherished Pennsylvania restaurant chain known for its colorful bird-themed sandwiches and community-driven spirit, is permanently closing three of its 13 locations, marking one of the most significant contractions in its 42-year history. The shutdowns represent over 20% of the company’s footprint, sending shockwaves through loyal customers across the state.
The chain announced that its Downtown Lancaster restaurant closed on October 25, followed by South York on October 26. The Ephrata location will complete the trio of closures when it shuts down on November 30. The company framed the decision as necessary but difficult—particularly given the brand’s deep roots in central Pennsylvania, where generations of residents grew up visiting Isaac’s for casual meals, family gatherings, and post-sports-game traditions.
According to the company, the moves stem from a combination of declining sales, competition from its other Isaac’s locations (i.e. too densely located), and macroeconomic pressures that have reshaped the entire restaurant industry. Inflation, higher food costs, interest-rate burdens, and labor shortages have all contributed to an operating environment that Isaac’s said has become impossible to sustain in certain markets.
Despite the closures, Isaac’s emphasized that the decision was ultimately strategic rather than survival-driven. Several of its stronger locations continue to perform well, and leadership says the goal is to focus resources where demand remains consistent. Employees from the shuttered restaurants have been offered transfers to nearby Isaac’s locations—a move that has been widely appreciated by staff and customers alike…