Prominent Pub Operator Opening New One Here In ’26
After helping build lasting success with The Local and Kieran’s Irish Pubs as the former CEO of Cara Pubs, Peter Killen is now building a pub of his own, right here in North Loop.
While construction won’t be finished in time for St. Patrick’s Day, he does hope to have Killen’s Irish Pub open by May. Here’s a news release he sent to the North Loop Neighborhood Association:
Killen’s Irish Pub is opening this May in the North Loop, taking over the former First Draft space at 6th Avenue North and North 4th Street on the ground floor of the Variant apartment building and it’s being built the way a proper Irish pub should be. Designed in Ireland and brought to life in Minneapolis, the space is meant to feel like a pub you’d stumble into in Ireland: cozy, welcoming, and built for pints, conversation, sports, and music. From the moment you walk in, it’s meant to feel familiar, like it’s always been there.
Owned and operated by Irish-born pub owner and hospitality veteran Peter Killen, who has called Minneapolis home for the past 26 years and was previously a partner at The Local and Kieran’s Irish Pub, Killen’s is his first pub on his own and the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. The 130-seat pub will feature booths, snugs, and high-tops centered around a 30-seat horseshoe bar, along with a south facing 50-seat patio perfectly positioned for Twins games and long summer afternoons in the North Loop.
The menu is intentionally focused and elevated in the way that matters most: quality over quantity. Each dish is designed to be the best version of itself, made with high-quality ingredients and thoughtful execution rather than endless options. Paired with value-driven drinks and an atmosphere that works just as well for a quiet weekday pint with your mates as it does for pre and post-game crowds, Killen’s Irish Pub is about doing the simple things right for the neighborhood, for baseball fans, and for anyone who believes a great pub never goes out of style.
It’s a pub built from experience, memory, and a genuine love for what an Irish pub is meant to be.