Flanagan's Harp & Fiddle closing in Bethesda

Flanagan's Harp & Fiddle, a downtown Bethesda institution for over three decades, is closing, the owners told ABC 7 News this morning. Rumors had been circulating for weeks that the end of August might be it for the Irish pub. The owners told John Gonzalez of ABC 7 that Montgomery County coronavirus restrictions, especially a ban on live music, were devastating to business.

They also said that the Bethesda Streetery, street closures for the purposes of outdoor dining on some roadways, actually hurt their business because they were on the perimeter. Downtown bars were already suffering from the collapse of nightlife before the pandemic even hit, after the County Council's "nighttime economy task force" initiative ended up tanking nightlife in downtown Bethesda. The County government's liquor monopoly, and rising taxes, have also reduced the already-slim profit margins for bars and restaurants.