Hamilton’s Rebel’s Rock pub closing after 20 years
After 20 years of suds, a Hamilton institution is closing its doors.
With residents hungry for dining out and thirsty for patio drinks, King Street East taphouse Rebel's Rock Irish Pub is preparing to serve its last beer.
Owners Kate and Troy Chapman announced the closing date, July 31, on Facebook, with hopes that patios will open shortly and customers will join them to party as best we can."
But despite the mid-pandemic end date, closing has been a long time coming.
Kate has retired twice now. She spent decades as a police officer before opening the bar. Now, she says, she has some health issues and it's time for me to do what I have to do," which is live.
The Chapmans are honoured that they made their mark on the city.
Nearly 20 years ago, Spectator restaurant critic John Kernaghan said the pub was a little oasis on an empty stretch of King Street East."
Even then Kate knew it was a good location, touting her bar as a place for the working-class people in the neighbourhood, so they don't have to get in their cars and go elsewhere."
Two decades later, the little pub that couldn't" has hosted weddings, wakes, baptisms and more, she says. We did it big."
Rebel regulars feel as comfortable in the bar as they do in their own living room.
Troy says customers sometimes wine and dine and just walk out and forget to pay, like walking out of my own house or my buddy's house."
We laugh at that," he adds, because they always came back.
Until the pub closes, the Chapmans plan to continue curbside dinner pick up. Also, folks have been coming by to collect items they've donated and to buy memorabilia from the pub.
Kate and Troy have sold the building where they've worked and lived for the past 20 years and the empty lot next door. The new owners take possession Sept. 31.
But they plan to stay close by.
Kate hopes to volunteer and keep cooking and their son, Liam, was just accepted into aviation technology at Mohawk College.
The Chapmans are thankful for everyone who has supported them over the years and they're thrilled the pub became so much a part of the city, Kate says.
We're very proud of that."
Jeremy Kemeny is a Hamilton-based web editor at The Spectator. Reach him via email: jkemeny@thespec.com