<!–Saxotech Paragraph Count: 20
–>

REHOBOTH BEACH — After a difficult financial year, the owners of the Irish Eyes Pub and Restaurant have put their Rehoboth Avenue location up for sale.

The 3,335-square-foot business is listed at $599,000, according to Jack Lingo Real Estate.

Co-owner Jim Kiernan said the sale was considered after a soft year in sales. This February’s severe winter storms also took a toll on the year-round restaurant, he said.

“If it doesn’t sell, we’ll continue to operate,” he said. “It’s still profitable, just not as profitable as it once was.”

So far, Kiernan said there have been a few potential buyers, but nothing firm.

If the business does sell, he said the new owners would not use the Irish Eyes brand. The two restaurants in Lewes and Milton would remain open, he said.

“We’re running the Lewes operation, which gets larger and larger and takes more of our time,” he said. “You can only run so many.”

But if a suitable buyer for the Rehoboth location isn’t found, Kiernan said it will reopen March 1 next year.

Irish Eyes has been in Rehoboth Beach since 1986, he said.

Co-owner Kathy Newcomb said the business still has several years left on its lease.

“If it doesn’t sell, we’re committed to staying there,” she said.

The Lewes location was destroyed twice by fires, in March 2007 and on New Year’s Eve 2008. Both times, the structure had to be rebuilt.

While Kiernan admitted those events were a distraction, he said they had no bearing on the decision to try to sell the Rehoboth Avenue location.

“A lot of customers, while we were rebuilding both times, went to the Rehoboth location, which actually helped it,” he said.

Sierra Moon owner Grant Willis, whose wife once worked at Irish Eyes, said it’s a shame to see a mainstay in the community face hard times.

“I knew that family,” he said. “I hate to see that misfortune on their end, knowing the troubles with the Lewes store.”

Carol Everhart, president and chief executive of the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce, said she’d hate to see Irish Eyes close.

“I hate to lose a good business,” she said.

wmckelvey@dmg.gannett.com

302-537-1881, ext. 208