Firkin and Friar ditches chain; it's now The Canyon's Crown

The eatery, owned by Rich McKnight and Jim Lengel, opened as part of The Firkin Group of Pubs — a chain based in Ontario — in July 2007.

On Monday, the restaurant's Twitter account announced the new name. McKnight confirmed by phone that the owners had parted ways with the chain.

"Things had run its course between us," he said. "It wasn't a beneficial relationship anymore."

McKnight said he and Lengel don't intend to change much, but they are happy to have that freedom. "As long as we take down everything that says 'Firkin' or 'Friar,' they are willing to let us go," he said.

He added that the new name was his wife's idea.

"The most common pub name in England is 'The Crown,' " he said. "The Canyon's Crown ties us into the Sabino Canyon area."