The Boston 'Cheers' Bar Has Permanently Closed

Independent bars and restaurants closed in record numbers during the height of the pandemic. Even some high-profile establishments struggled, including the Cheers Replica Bar, which permanently shuttered in August 2020.

The Boston Cheers bar, which was located in Faneuil Hall Marketplace, was a replica of the bar in the sitcom that ran from 1982 to 1993 on NBC. With Cheers being one of the most popular sitcoms of all time, the replica bar was a tourist hotspot for two decades. CEO Markus Ripperger told CBS Boston that the bar's closure was due to financial struggles brought on by the pandemic.

"I have faced and pulled through many kinds of downturns and upticks in the economy within the last 20 years Cheers Replica Bar at Faneuil Hall Marketplace has been in business," said the bar's owner Tom Kershaw in a press release. "Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with no assistance from our landlord," he continued, "has made this current challenge insurmountable."

In July 2020, Yelp released findings that 60% of American restaurant closures since March 2020 were permanent. Diner behavior has also changed since the pandemic, with one study from the Square payment platform showing that tips at full-service restaurants fell 10% since their pandemic peak.

Following the closure of Cheers Replica Bar, memorabilia was auctioned off including the bar's sign, Tiffany-style swag lamps, and even the restroom sign. Fortunately, the original Cheers bar that inspired the television show is still operational in Beacon Hill, giving fans even more reason to show their support by popping in for a pint.