Irish Pub Decor

Tradition's on tap in new Irish pub

SIOUX CITY -- Rick Bertrand searched far and wide to give his new Irish pub an authentic look and feel.

The Sioux City businessman scoured the Internet for just the right furnishings for McCarthy & Bailey's, which is scheduled to make its public debut next week along a revitalized stretch of Pearl Street.

"We didn't settle for materials," Bertrand said. "We knew what we wanted. We were patient, and it paid off."

A beautiful, century-old mahogany bar was rescued from an ancient pub just north of Dublin, Ireland. Stained glass inside the Sioux City pub and cobblestone in the entryway also came from the Emerald Isle.

The weathered, saw-cut flooring was salvaged from an old warehouse in New England.

Other materials were found closer to home. Some of the thick support beams were taken from an old downtown warehouse owned by State Steel. Stained glass in the entryway is from the former St. Anthony's Orphange.

Pearl's transformation

Sioux City's first authentic Irish pub, a project three years in the making, is a centerpiece of a multimillion-dollar redevelopment spearheaded by Bertrand that aims to transform a formerly seedy area into a vibrant commercial and entertainment district.

His development company, Alleycat Holdings, purchased a series of run-down buildings in the 400 and 500 blocks of Pearl. The renovation work is being done by RJ Tides, a general contractor whose owners include Bertrand's brother, Russ.

Much of the renovated space has been leased to tenants that include a coffee shop, art studio and professional offices.

McCarthy & Bailey's, the first of the new businesses to open, is housed in a 1917 structure at 423 Pearl St. that was completely gutted. "It's basically a brand new building at this point," Bertrand said.

Bertrand's partner in the Irish pub is his high school pal, Dr. Greg McCarthy, a Sioux City podiatrist. The pub also is named for Bertand's wife, Tammy, whose maiden name is Bailey.

"We kidded around, but I always promised I'd build her an Irish pub," he said.

Both sides of Tammy's family are Irish. Bertrand's grandmother was an O'Reilly whose family roots trace back to Ireland. "I'm French and I'm Irish, so I love to drink and I love to make love," he quipped.

Bertrand points to market research that shows that nearly all newly opened Irish pubs stay in business for at least 25 years if they "stay true to the Irish theme." To learn all the dos and don'ts, he traveled to seven of the top U.S. Irish pubs.

Cruisin' For A Brewsin': Fadó's Euro Dinner rocked last night!

I have visited Atlanta’s Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant a few times for events, but I never had a chance to indulge in their food. It was always a sip of a creamy Guinness Stout or what have you in the spirit of Ireland, but last night made me an official fan! Fadó; Tower Wine, Beer & Spirits; and Anheuser-Busch InBev presented a “Euro Beer” dinner. Held in the revitalizing posh district of Buckhead, the sold-out dining event surrounded by authentic Irish pub décor presented four courses of delicious fare coupled with some of the most world-renowned brews that are all under the AB/In-Bev umbrella.   This one blew me away. The Irish “boxty” was like a grilled crepe with a tad of sweetness, wrapped around an awesome combination of shrimp, grilled chicken, just enough veggies and sharp cheese. The fruity, crisp, and potent Leffe Blonde from Belgium was a great choice to balance out this dish. This one was my favorite course by a nose.

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