CINCINNATI — Months after a devastating fire, many in Pleasant Ridge have wondered if Molly Malone's will reopen on Montgomery Road.
The building is now for sale with a $1.1 million price tag, including the furniture and liquor license. But this may not be the end of the Irish pub and restaurant. The agent handling the listing, Kent Dailey, said the owners are just exploring options such as selling or leasing the space to another restaurant. They could also just reopen.
Josh Rothstein, a retail specialist with OnSite Retail Group, isn't involved but handles a lot of leasing in the neighborhood. He said the neighborhood is primed for development.
"I think, as it relates to this Molly Malone's property, the owners are probably trying to tangle it out to the market to figure out what they can get for it, because it's hot," he said. "I mean, it's freezing right now, but I can feel how this market is sizzling."
For now, Molly Malone's future remains a mystery. Coffee Exchange, which was destroyed in the fire, has plans to open a new, larger location.
Rothstein pointed to plans for a Goodfellas Pizzeria, Nine Giant expansion and a new steakhouse as signs of the neighborhood's strength.
"To be able to repurpose this property and allow somebody else to really maximize the value that it has, especially now that the area and the business district has continued to turn over and really strengthen, there's no better time than now to try to do something with it," Rothstein said.
