A construction crew broke ground on the old Molly Malone’s-Brian Boru Irish pub site on July 27, and started demolition of the building at 7652 W. Madison St., on the lots between Dunkin’ Donuts and Mugsy’s.
Buyers closed on the site for $750,000 on May 8, down from the original $899,900 asking price listed on Redfin, according to public records. The Northbrook-based Madison Avenue Real Estate Group, managed by Chicago White Sox and Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, plans to build a four-story commercial and residential building at the site. The Forest Park Village Council unanimously approved developers’ plans in late April, later amending the village zoning code to eliminate lot area restrictions on mixed-use developments to allow properties to cover 100 percent of a lot.
The Madison Avenue building will have commercial space on the bottom floor and 36 apartment units on the ascending three floors. Balconies will accompany apartments, and bike racks will be incorporated into the final design. Forty enclosed parking spaces will also be included on the ground floor.
Brian Boru, an Irish pub and eatery named after an 11th-century Irish king, closed in April 2016, less than a year after it opened. That pub succeeded Molly Malone’s, which closed in October 2014 after 12 years operating in Forest Park. Molly Malone’s was famous for its traditional Irish music jam sessions.
Nona Tepper
