Molly Maguires, Two Other Restaurants Close

Molly Maguires, billed originally as a cross between an early American restaurant/tavern and an Irish pub, closed July 29. The restaurant had been open at 3607 Magellan Blvd. in Bentonville since June 3, 1997.

“It was a business decision we had to make,” said Dr. Mario Costaldi, a Rogers surgeon who owned the business and 6,400-SF building along with Billy Baggett and Rick Christianson.

“The sponsorship had declined over the past few months,” Costaldi said, referring to the number of diners at the restaurant. “Our entertainment business had declined, also. We had some problems with management and personnel in general.”

Costaldi said he didn’t believe competition from new restaurants contributed to Molly Maguires’ problems.

Costaldi said Molly Maguires offered live music every Friday and Saturday night. The restaurant, which featured a dance floor, could seat 250 diners inside and another 200 outside.

Costaldi said he will put the building up for sale but may change his mind later and open a different restaurant there. Costaldi said the owners have $1.3 million invested in the building and restaurant equipment, but he didn’t know as of press time what the asking price would be.

Costaldi said sales at the restaurant declined steadily since it opened to about $800,000 for 1999.

Originally, the menu included exotic items like buffalo, rabbit and venison, but Benton County residents didn’t take to the wild game like owners expected.

“Our menu had become fairly non-sophisticated,” Costaldi said. “It just didn’t sell, the sophisticated things.”