Harrisburg Pub Expands to Marquee Downtown Spot

McGrath's Pub takes over former Arooga's location, bringing new energy to city's restaurant scene.

Feb. 2, 2026 at 5:31pm

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McGrath's Pub in Harrisburg is expanding into the former Arooga's space at the corner of North Second and Locust streets, allowing the two-story restaurant to grow its footprint and offerings. Owner Adam Sturges says the expansion is a matter of "self-preservation" as the downtown area has seen several restaurant closures in recent years. The project aims to be completed around St. Patrick's Day, pending liquor license approval.

Why it matters

The expansion of McGrath's Pub is welcome news for Harrisburg's downtown restaurant scene, which has struggled with multiple closures in the past year. The addition of the larger space and kitchen will allow the popular pub to handle more volume and menu variety, potentially drawing more visitors to the area.

The details

McGrath's Pub, which opened in 2002, is taking over the former Arooga's location to expand its footprint. The two-story restaurant currently seats about 60 diners, but the additional space will allow for a more cohesive dining experience. Owner Adam Sturges says the expansion is a matter of "self-preservation" as the downtown area has seen several restaurant closures, making it difficult to convince visitors that Harrisburg has a lot to offer. The project aims to be completed around St. Patrick's Day, pending approval from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board for the expanded liquor license.

  • McGrath's Pub opened at 202 Locust St. in 2002.
  • Arooga's closed in 2024 for structural repairs and never reopened.
  • The building that housed Arooga's was sold to RMN Group LLC last month.
  • The expansion project aims to be completed around St. Patrick's Day 2026.

The players

Adam Sturges

The owner of McGrath's Pub, as well as the Sturges Speakeasy and Mad Moose Tavern in Harrisburg.

RMN Group LLC

A local investor that purchased the three-story building that previously housed Arooga's.

Gov. Josh Shapiro

The governor of Pennsylvania who visited McGrath's Pub as part of a promise to meet with Harrisburg city leaders to improve the capital city.

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What they’re saying

“I wasn't necessarily looking to expand. But it's sort of self-preservation when you have so many shuttered storefronts downtown and it's hard to convince people staying at the hotels that Harrisburg is a nice city and has a lot to offer.”

— Adam Sturges, Owner, McGrath's Pub (pennlive.com)

“There's going to be no nonsense with this. We're going to run this much like McGrath's: Clean and safe.”

— Adam Sturges, Owner, McGrath's Pub (pennlive.com)

“It has always been one of those marquee spots in the city.”

— Adam Sturges, Owner, McGrath's Pub (pennlive.com)

“We've got everybody rowing in the same direction. All of the political nonsense is out the window and folks are communicating well.”

— Gov. Josh Shapiro (pennlive.com)

What’s next

The expansion project is pending approval from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board for the expanded liquor license.

The takeaway

The expansion of McGrath's Pub into the former Arooga's space is a positive development for Harrisburg's downtown restaurant scene, which has faced numerous closures in recent years. The added space and kitchen capacity will allow the popular pub to grow its offerings and potentially draw more visitors to the area, while the governor's involvement suggests a renewed focus on revitalizing the city's central business district.