Kinda sad to see Philthy close, have a lot of memories there. Blowing downstairs was fun being tipsy haha.
Game over for Philthy McNasty’s
January 15, 2010
Lisa Grace Marr
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/705948
The lights are still on, the dishes and ketchup are still on the table, but Philthy McNasty’s on Upper James is closed for good.
Or at least for now.
“It’s a casualty of the economy, I’m afraid,” said Jeff White, founder of the chain, which has merged with the Pegasus Group.
“We had a good run in Hamilton. Then there was the (shutdowns) at Dofasco and (U.S. Steel), the students didn’t return this year like they usually do and the closure of the Upper James Cinemas — that really hurt,” he said.
The restaurant and sports bar was a Mountain fixture for more than a decade.
In its heyday, before the non-smoking bylaw kicked in, White said it had 90 staff and a bank of 15 pool tables in the basement, and the place was hopping.
When it closed this week, the number of staff had dropped to about 40, including managers — all great people, he said.
But the place was not just a big party spot — it was a big spot, period.
“It’s a 13,000-square-foot facility,” White said. “It’s not the mid-’90s anymore. I think it’s time to slim down the size” of sports bars.
White, originally from Burlington, hasn’t ruled out returning to the Hamilton market.
Philthy’s just opened a new eatery in Oakville, after closing another location a year and a half ago. It now has five locations listed on its website, including others in Burlington, Waterloo, Ottawa and Toronto.
Hamilton is still a great market and it has potential, White said.
“Once this economy turns around, Hamilton is No. 1 on my list to come back to.”
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