Business Notebook: An Irish pub thrives in Warwick

Warwick - It’s called Halligan’s Public House but that’s not the name of the owner. The popular restaurant on West Street in the Village of Warwick is actually owned by three local residents: Sean Corrigan, John Kelly and Bob Lax. Were the partners thinking about someone named Halligan when they selected the name? The answer is, “Yes and no.” In addition to the investment in their new restaurant, the owners of Halligan’s have other careers. Lax is an accountant and both Corrigan and Kelly, who suggested the name, are members of the New York City Fire Department. And, as all firefighters know, the “Halligan” is a special forcible entry tool commonly used in fire and rescue service to pry, pound, pull and puncture. But the tool is also named after its designer, Hugh Halligan, a now retired first deputy fire commissioner of the New York City Fire Department. If you’re interested in learning more about the history of the Halligan, stop by the restaurant and read the cover of the menu. And, if you’re more interested in food and drink, the inside of the menu lists an eclectic selection of reasonably priced “Pub food” including appetizers, soups, sandwiches, entrees and deserts. Just by the names alone, you might be tempted to try Halligan’s “3” Alarm Chili, Halligan’s Build-A-Burger or a “Whatchamacallit” chicken sandwich. There are also traditional entrees such as rib eye steak, shepherd’s pie, BBQ baby back ribs and fish and chips. And, there are enough tables and booths to accommodate 60 guests plus a lengthy bar that serves a dozen different beers on tap. If you enjoy interesting decor, Halligan’s has plenty of historic Warwick and firefighter photos displayed on its walls as well as other fire department memorabilia and a traditional pub dart board. There are also two bodhran (bor-on) drums behind the bar, which are painted with the Corrigan and Kelly family coat-of-arms. Digital juke boxes can play large selection of music and Super Bowl fans should note that every seat or table faces a TV including the latest large screen plasma models. Before opening the restaurant this past November, the owners renovated every inch of available space. A carpentry firm, known for its expertise in designing Irish-style pubs, built all the woodwork, including the bar, from scratch. Even the intricate moldings, for example, were designed and constructed on site. And the colorful façade with the American and Republic of Ireland flags flying is straight out of a Dublin postcard. In spite of the pub and sports bar atmosphere, Halligan’s is a family-oriented restaurant. “I think we have more high chairs than most restaurants and we want families to be comfortable here because we’re all family guys,” said Kelly. The proof of that point is that he and his wife, Maureen, have an 18-month old child and, as of this writing, were about to welcome another baby. His partner, Corrigan, and his wife, Caroline, have three children ages one to four. Lax and his wife, Linda, also have three children, all teenagers. Part of the initial success of Halligan’s Public House may be due to the fact that both Corrigan and Kelly have years of experience in the business. Kelly previously owned a bar and restaurant in Fairfield, Conn., and Corrigan is the current owner of a bar and restaurant in Manhattan. It’s also helpful to have Lax, an experienced accountant, as a partner. The kitchen at Halligan’s Public House is open Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The bar remains open later on most weekdays and until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Call 986-2914 for additional information. Business briefs • Construction of the new “Charlotte’s Tea Room” at Greetings and Salutations, 9 Main St., Warwick, is nearing completion. Owner Joanne Graney has already booked several private “tea” parties for next month. For additional information call 988-9499. • The expansion of the Backyard Grill on Forester Avenue, Warwick, has been completed and a grand re-opening was celebrated on Friday evening, Jan. 13. We’ll have more to report on all the new improvements in an upcoming column.