PJ Hanley's Owner Files For Bankruptcy

Is it lights out for Brooklyn's oldest bar?

On Friday afternoon, Crain's reported that the company behind the chain has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. There are four locations: two in Manhattan, one in Park Slope. But the most famous is arguably the one inside of Carroll Gardens' 138-year-old pub Irish bar, which owner James McGown purchased in 1995 and expanded to offer his signature-style pies.

Calls to PJ Hanley's for comment Friday afternoon yielded no response.

According to Crain's, McGown listed assets between $1 million and $10 million and liabilities in the same range. He stated in a recent petition that the bankruptcy "was precipitated by landlord-tenant issues with the landlord, over-landlord and fee owner of 122 First Avenue," one of the Manhattan outposts, which was still in operation as of press time.

McGown is also an owner of the Bavarian restaurant and bar , which in addition to brats and steins serves South Brooklyn Pies as well. Representatives of that business would only e-mail Carroll Gardens Patch to say, "This does not effect ."

In addition to being a restaurateur, McGown is president of East River Mortgage Corp., which also recently filed for Chapter 11.

Stay with Patch for updates.