Jeff Crivello, the former CEO of Famous Dave’s, plans to buy ten Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant locations, including the one in West Chester, writes Emma Dooling for the Philadelphia Business Journal.
During this week’s U.S. Bankruptcy Court hearing in New Jersey, Judge Jerrold N. Poslusny Jr. approved the sale of the regional chain’s assets and leases to Crivello as part of its ongoing Chapter 7 bankruptcy case.
Crivello will buy the assets and leases through the IH Restaurants entity for a credit bid of $12 million, payments for the liquor licenses for Delaware restaurants, and to cover liabilities of the ten locations.
His plan is to either reopen the restaurants or convert them into new concepts.
“We’re working diligently with all the landlords to figure out how to get them reopened either as Iron Hill or as another brand as quickly as possible,” he said.
Crivello spent five years as CEO of Famous Dave’s of America Inc. before leading its parent company, BBQ Holdings Inc. There he served another three years until 2022. In early 2024, he founded and now leads Ciao Hospitality.
Read more about some Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant locations being scooped up in the Philadelphia Business Journal.
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When Iron Hill Brewery abruptly shut down all 15 locations after nearly 30 years in business last month, 6abc’s Maggie Kent was on the scene at the chain’s Market Street location to capture the sentiments of employees stunned and customers asking what went wrong.
Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on VISTA Today in November 2025.
