Built
in 1885, the two story building that is now know as the Irish Bred Pub
Restaurant was once home to Douglas County's only pharmacy.
More
than a pharmacy, the store played a central part in the lives of the
counties residents and served as more of a department store. It
was
a gathering place for the school kids who enjoyed the soda fountain and
booths; a bus terminal for tickets; a gas
station; and even a jeweler for soon-to-be newlyweds. Apparently you
were not cool if you had no swiped a pen or pencil from the store!
For many people, this was the place to depend on for their lunch , whether
it be soup, grilled chicken or salad
sandwiches, shakes and ice cream. Over the years, the second floor
housed a doctor's office, the telephone exchange and later a beauty parlor
and residential apartments. In 1995, the pharmacy was converted into
an antique store known as Suzanne's.
And this is where our
journey begins. In spring of 2008, the building became the community's
first Irish pub. We are proud to preserve the historic integrity of the
building by exposing the brickwork
created from Douglas County clay and by
creating our two bars from the original wooden floors and the first floor
tables from the original building joists. All symbolize the wonderful
historic character of the building. Moreover, we hope to restore the
original role of the
building as a central part of the community and
create a new "local" within the neighborhood - a place where you can
gather again, exchange ideas, make new friends: a play where you can enjoy
great food and drink, and enjoyable entertainment;
a place where you do not just spend your time but savor your time. Prior
to opening our doors, we created our own piece of history when a fire
struck and threatened to destroy all our efforts. Fortunately, the damage
was minimal and the historic character of the building was unscathed. The
events of that day on the 28th of February 2008, and the support of the
community made us even more determined than
ever to open our doors. We
are grateful to our neighbors for their acceptance and kindness. We will
always welcome your comments
-- praises or criticism -- and by doing so,
you will always help us to better serve you, our friends and guests.
Russ Phillips & Neil
Jenkins
Owners of The Irish Bred Pub & Restaurant