Groovy Schiller’s a.k.a Schiller’s 2 will close in less than three weeks after 19 years of providing pints and pub grub beside the Liangma River. Co-owner Jack Zhou says the final day of business will be April 20. The venue will also be closed today, tomorrow and Monday before the final run starts on Tuesday.
Zhou, Collie Gowran and Ah Jian took over the venue two years ago and have made it one of Beijing’s best locals, with ample seating at the bar, long tables, side rooms and patio, a decent beer and pub grub selection, regular live music, and friendly management. The closing is due not to a lack of business but to Schiller’s being on land designated for public security rather than commercial use, a situation that has led to the closing of numerous other restaurants and bars in recent months.
The past year has been a rough one for Beijing’s oldest bars, with veterans such as Frank’s Place in Lido, The Den in Sanlitun, Suzie Wong at Chaoyang Park, Tim’s Texas Bar-B-Q near The Silk Market and Ichikura behind Chaoyang Theatre closing. (Tim’s has reopened in Central Park while Ichikura still has its sibling establishment Kura Kura in Sanlitun.)
Schiller’s 2 opened in 1997, following the opening of the first Schiller’s across from The Keminski Hotel in 1994. Unless there is a change in plans—both The Den and Tim’s ended up getting a bit more time—you only have a few weeks to head over and grab some pints and one of those massive pork knuckles.
(Hat tip to ICU)
* * *
Get regular Beijing updates via my Instagram and Twitter feeds. Also see my sibling sites Grape Wall of China, World Baijiu Day and World Marselan Day. Help cover the hosting and other costs of these sites with a WeChat, AliPay or PayPal donation.
* * *
Leave a Reply