SYRACUSE, NY -- The Penny Pub, a long-time Armory Square watering hole that has had several names, has closed.

The closing was announced Wednesday on the pub's Facebook page, and confirmed today by co-owner Doug Balle.

Balle initially used the word "temporarily" is describing the closing, but said later, "It's closed." Balle operated the pub at 321 W. Fayette St. with Christopher Holmes.

It was previously known as Holmes Pub and the Half Penny Pub, among other names.

The Facebook post reads: "After long and hard consideration we have decided to close our doors. Big thanks to all who have been with us since the beginning. It is you all that made The Penny such an awesome spot. Unfortunately we cannot always control the actions of others and it is for that reason, the actions of others, we have decided to close. So long for now."

Balle, who also owns Clinton St. Pub and is a partner in Modern Malt, both on South Clinton St. nearby, did not elaborate on the post.

The Penny, just down the block from Kitty Hoynes Irish Pub and the Stopp restaurant, offered drinks and hosted live music. It was also one of the downtown Syracuse bars that routinely stayed open all night on New Year's Eve.

It was not as glitzy as some Armory Square bars, which is what many of its regulars liked about it.

Dozens of the bar's fans lamented the closing in comments on the Facebook post. One read: "Devastated. Only place I could go to downtown and not have to deal with obnoxious college students."

Don Cazentre writes about craft beer, wine, spirits and beverages for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.