The original Nick’s Roast Beef in Northeast Philadelphia closed its doors for good on March 19 after 53 years, but its sister stores in Springfield and West Chester will continue to operate as usual, writes Michael Klein for The Philadelphia Inquirer. 

The building where the sports bar is located was sold in January and owner Matt Rossi said he was not able to come to terms with the new landlord who wanted to nearly double his rent. 

All of the employees will have a guaranteed place at another Nick’s near the Philadelphia Mills mall.

“Nobody is going to miss a beat,” he said. 

The “Original” Nick’s opened in 1938 at 20th and Jackson St. in South Philadelphia.

The family opened its second location in Springfield at 10 E. Woodland Ave. in 1998. A third location opened in West Chester in 2015.

That Chester County location is not owned by Rossi but is run by Lili McKinney, and her husband, Jeff.

McKinney is the daughter of Nick DeSipio, whose father Nicholas DeSipio opened a beef-and-ale house in South Philadelphia in 1938, considered to be Nick’s Roast Beef’s predecessor.

The pair also still owns the South Philadelphia location, named Old Original Nick’s Roast Beef. 

Read more about Nick’s Roast Beef in The Philadelphia Inquirer. 

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