The bar has been homebase for all four One Chicago shows.

It’s cliched to refer to a landmark or location as a character in a show, but Molly’s Pub comes close. The bar has appeared in all four One Chicago shows, and been the setting of some of the most loved and revisited moments in Chicago Fire history.

Which is why the announcement made by Herrmann (David Eigenberg) during the episode “Born of Fire” was so noteworthy. The character informed his 51 co-workers that he intends to expand Molly’s into a franchise, and likens it to the real life restaurant chain Ditka’s.

There are a lot of dangling plot threads to address post-“Born of Fire,” but the title of the follow up episode, leads us to believe that the Molly’s Pub expansion will be getting more screen time. The episode is titled “Bar Time.” Granted, Chicago Fire likes to sometimes sneak double meanings into titles, but “Bar Time” seems to be a pretty overt nod to Herrmann’s retirement plan.

Who originally owned Molly’s Pub on Chicago Fire?

It’s a big deal to the character, which is something Mouch (Christian Stolte) commented on during their ‘Born of Fire” conversation. Herrmann has taken to tinkering with new drink recipes in an effort to bolster Molly’s menu. He even made reference to the late Otis (Yuri Sardarov), who previously owned a portion of the bar.

“Molly’s North was a hit and it would have been still been up and running if Otis hadn’t…” Herrmann said with a heavy heart. “You know if he was still around.” Herrmann has become the face of Molly’s during the most recent stretch of Chicago Fire, which can make it easy to forget how many of the show’s characters have actually been involved in the bar’s success.

Gabriela Dawson (Monica Raymund) owned part of Molly’s before deciding to relocate to Puerto Rico in season 6. Dawson decided to split her shares between Herrmann and Otis, who ran the ship for an additional two seasons together. Otis died at the start of season 8, and his shares were bought up by Mouch and Trudy Platt (Amy Morton).

Does Stella Kidd own part of Molly’s?

Herrmann is the last owner standing. It would make sense that he would want to expand things, and push the boundaries of the Molly’s brand as he veers closer and closer to retirement. Mortality is an aspect of his character that has repeatedly been driven home over the last few seasons, between his wife’s cancer scare and the injury that led to his partial hearing loss.

Plus, a subplot in which Herrmann is trying out new cocktails sounds like a perfect platform for banter and comedic situations for him, Mouch, and whoever is brave enough to give the cocktails a try. It will also be interesting to see how Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) factors into the decision to expand the franchise.

Kidd has spent the last few seasons as the manager and main bartender at Molly’s. She’s about to take a big step in her personal life by adopting a child, so there may be a situation in which she also benefits from the expansion, or decides to make a change and spearhead one of the other locations. Either way, “Bar Time” makes it sound like we will be getting plenty of Molly’s screen time, and we’re here for it.