Houlihan’s in Cranberry Township closes, surprises staff
Peter Easterly’s double shift Sunday, Aug. 27, at Houlihan’s in Cranberry Township seemed like any other day at the restaurant, which made the news Monday that the restaurant would never again reopen an even bigger shock.
Easterly said he received an online notification of a conference Monday morning that he was unable to attend, and found out from one of his managers that every Houlihan’s employee was out of a job.
“She sounded pretty shook up when she was talking to me, I'm assuming the management didn't know,” said Easterly, of Rochester, Beaver County. “They sent me screenshots of other restaurants; other restaurants in the area as possibilities to go to and information on unemployment.”
A statement from Houlihan’s Restaurant Group said the Cranberry Township location closed “due to a natural lease expiration.”
“We value our employees and their dedication to the company and are working to relocate them to our nearby sister properties,” said Bill Leibengood, chief operating officer of Houlihan’s Restaurant Group. “We thank the community for the many years of support.”
Easterly had been a server at Houlihan’s since October, and said the restaurant was normally busy, with Friday and Saturday nights being particularly popular with diners.
Houlihan’s was Easterly’s main source of income, and he said he is looking for a job, now that the restaurant closed.
“Stuff happens. You never know,” Easterly said. “It always seemed to do steady business, it had been there for 14 years, or more. I think everyone, including myself, was blindsided by it.”
