WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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Recess is over.
The owners of the 18-and-over nightclub, Kilroy’s Recess in Bloomington, have closed down their business.
Kilroy’s Recess is being remodeled into a traditional bar, named Kirkwood Stacks.
The closing comes less than a year after Recess opened, replacing Kilroy’s Dunnkirk.
Recess attracted controversy almost as soon as it opened. Bloomington residents, including Mayor John Hamilton, criticized the business for its underage party-goers. Hamilton criticized the venue’s proximity to other bars downtown, and worried that underage IU students would be drinking.
Community outcry peaked last August, after the club’s Twitter account invited Indiana University alumnus Mark Cuban, to check out the club with promises of “underage girls.”
Multiple local businesses accused Kilroy’s Recess of promoting rape culture, sexism and misogyny. Local brewery, Switchyard Brewing, said it would not distribute to any Kilroy’s location in response.
The address has a license to sell liquor under Kilroy’s Dunnkirk LLC, but the license for Kilroy’s Sports bar on Walnut Street will be reviewed by the Monroe County Alcoholic Beverage Board at City Hall next Wednesday.
Bloomington residents tried unsuccessfully to have Kilroy on Kirkwood’s alcohol license pulled by the board in April.
