For the first time in years, St. Patrick's Day revelers won't gather at Riley's Pour House this weekend.
The landmark Irish tavern has yet to rise from the ruins of last November's fire.
“We’re not talking about remodeling now, we’re talking about building a whole new place,’ owner Joe Riley told KDKA Radio.
While he had initially hoped they would be able to have a St Patrick's Day gathering this year, it just can't happen.
“our site is a still a live demolition site,” said Riley. “Of course, that was a big factor.”
While they still haven't signed a new contractor, the hope is the upgrades they were working on before the fire will help them as they get ready to rebuild.
Riley hopes next year, there will be a big celebration. “We’re setting a goal date of St. Patrick’s Day 2026.”
He admits that there are some factors that could change that date, including supply chain issues and weather, just to name a couple.
Several benefits are being planned to help Riley rebuild the Pour House, including a Washington Wild Things exhibition game on June 7. TICKETS
One of the things Riley misses most is the customers that became family over the year.
“I used to always say, when I was getting there it would take me a while to get wherever I was walking to because I’d get ask to stop over at this table, that table and just the business of the day,” said Riley.
And a trip to Riley’s wasn’t just about a glass of Jameson’s or a pint of Guinness.
“Many of our customers were not coming to drink and they did not drink,” said Riley. “It was a place to see their friends, their families.”