Popular Pittsburgh bar Hambone’s permanently closes

A popular Lawrenceville bar has permanently closed following the death of its owner and complications with his estate.

Hambone’s on Butler Street was owned by Jeffrey D. Holt, who died last month.

A post on the bar’s Facebook page and Holt’s sister Sue Holt-Hauck confirmed the closure, which was effective Thursday.

“It’s with great sadness that we have to close the bar at the time, but until we work through the estate that’s just the way it has to be,” Holt-Hauck said Sunday. “It just didn’t make sense without having the estate open to move forward with the bar.”

A talented painter, potter and metal sculptor, Holt was a longtime supporter of Pittsburgh’s music and comedy scene.

He wanted to develop a “special space” for artists. That space was Hambone’s.

Holt-Hauck said her family wanted to keep the bar alive, and continue on with what her brother had done, but that wasn’t possible because his estate is closed. The family is working with attorney Daniel Gustine, who didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday.

“It’s not what’s in our heart for what we want to do, but we have to do what’s right from a legal standpoint,” Holt-Hauck said. “You need somebody who is going to be able to administer the estate. There would be liabilities. We don’t want to put anybody at risk. We care very deeply about the employees.”

Holt had solely owned Hambone’s since 2018. Prior to that he was a co-owner with Bill Hammill for several years.

The bar has been around for 35 years, according to the Facebook post. The post had more than 400 likes and shares as of Sunday afternoon, with respondents thanking Hambone’s for all that it has done for the community.

“Thank you for a million amazing memories and for being a steadfast rock of the Pittsburgh arts/comedy scene for so long,” one person commented on the post.

“This was the first place I ever did stand up comedy. Hambones shapes who I am as a comic,” another person wrote. “Thank you for everything you guys did for the comedy scene. Pittsburgh won’t be the same.”

“Thank you for always providing an amazing stage for any and all performers in the Pittsburgh area. The arts will never be the same,” another person said.

The Facebook post, which was signed by The Hambone’s Staff, said the following:

“We are very sad to have to tell you all. We tried, we really did.. but with the death of Jeff, the bank has made the decision to not continue business with his estate.. and the debt is insurmountable..Therefore.. its over.. After 35 years in this spot, with Bill Hammill, then Bill and Jeff, then just Jeff at the helm..We are now permanently closed..There will be a sheriff’s sale of the building, as to the rest of it, we do not know details yet…Just from all of us, to all of you, we will miss you and goodbye. We will provide details of any sale of equipment when we know.. Thank you to everyone, patrons, performers, staff, vendors.. all of you..”