The Irish Pub, a century-old Atlantic City institution that inspired the red hotel in the board game Monopoly, has been closed since late last year after state inspectors flagged height and fire safety code violations.. owner Cathy Burke, who has run the pub with her husband since 1972, says she is determined to resolve the issues but has chosen not to reopen while the debate continues, according to a report on the pub's plight.

The six-inch difference that turned a pub into a high-rise

At the heart of the dispute is a seemingly trivial measurement: the street level for fire trucks is about six inches lower than the pub's first floor . That difference led New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs to reclassfiy the property as a high-rise in the early 1990s, triggering stricter fire safety requirements. The Construction Board of Appeals initially sided with Burke, but the state later reversed course again, reopening the classification this year, the report says.

The irony is not lost on locals: a building that has operated as a bar and hotel since 1902 is now being judged by standards designed for towers. Burke argued in court that the pub sometimes functioned as a nightclub due to live performances, which the state used to justify the high-rise label. The city's fire code treats a 100-year-old pub the same as a modern skyscraper.

A Monopoly landmark at risk of being lost

Beyond its regulars,the Irish Pub holds a unique place in pop culture: it served as the inspiration for the red hotel on the Monopoly board. The game, which immortalizes Atlantic City landmarks, features a red square that many believe is based on the pub. The building also once offered hotel rooms for as little as $25 a night, making it a budget-friendly escape generations of visitors remember.

The pub is part of what makes Atlantic City 'America's Playground,' according to the report, and its potential closure has stirred sadness on social media.. Patrons have expressed frustration that a beloved piece of the city's identity may vanish over a bureaucratic dispute.

The $66,000 penalty and the missing sprinklers

Burke faces $66 ,000 in penalties from the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety, the report states. She has installed sprinklers throughout most of the building — except in the bar and restaurant area, where the risk is highest. The state has said business owners can address violations while remaining open, but Burke says she does not want to give staff false hope by reopening before the issues are settled.

The incomplete sprinkler installation raises a key question: why has the bar area not been fitted? The report does not specify whether the cost, layout, or historical designation makes full compliance difficult. Until that zone is addressed, the pub cannot meet current fire codes.

What remains unclear: can the pub reopen?

Two open questions hang over the story. First, will the state ever settle the high-rise classification? The designation has flip-flopped several times, creating costly legal battles for Burke. Second, if the pub is not a high-rise, does it still need the full sprinkler system? The report does not clarify what specific code applies if the high-rise label is removed.

Burke has vowed not to give up, but the timeline is uncertain. Without a definitive ruling from the state or a completed sprinkler installation, the Irish Pub remains closed — and the risk of permanent closure looms .