McGillins Olde Ale House Is Philadelphia's Oldest Historical Bar
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John Wanamaker, whose flagship department store was nearby, was said to be a frequent customer. “We have heard stories that he did, I assume, in his younger years as he died during prohibition,” said Mullins. And even after the holiday, there’s no rest for the weary. Murph’s is an Irish pub in Fishtown that also happens to make some of our favorite Italian food in the city. The Continental is an upscale diner in Old City where you should go for brunch or for late-night eats until 1am.
McGillin's Olde Ale House in Philadelphia ranked among best Irish bars by the Travel Channel - CBS News
McGillin's Olde Ale House in Philadelphia ranked among best Irish bars by the Travel Channel.
Posted: Mon, 04 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
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Besides being one of the oldest bars in Philly, McGillin’s in Midtown Village is also the entire city’s favorite place to day drink and watch sports. If you’re in Philly during football or baseball season and can’t get tickets to the real thing, there’s no better place to be. They also have a fireplace, so it’s especially useful in the winter when all of the outdoor beer gardens are closed and day drinking options have dwindled. McGillin’s has been featured on numerous “Best Of” lists, including being named one of the “14 coolest bars in America” by Gourmet magazine and one of the “50 best Irish pubs in America” by Complex magazine. In addition to these accolades, it boasts a collection of iconic vintage Philadelphia signs from bygone stores and businesses, like Woolworth's and the John Wanamaker Department Store.
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Festivities begin Saturday, with an open-to-all party featuring surprise guests at the bar from noon to 5 p.m. Celebrations will continue throughout the year, with specials like Doyle dollar dog days, and will culminate on St. Patrick’s Day. But it’s interacting with everyday people that Doyle loves best. On Saturdays and on St. Patrick’s Day and New Year’s Day. On those occasions, the bar is often packed with his regulars who’ve become friends and his friends who’ve become regulars. He’s also met Chase Utley, watched Jason Kelce play cards in McGillin’s, and worked the bar during the Phillies 2008 World Series parade, the busiest day he’s ever seen.
h Anniversary
Doyle earned a "Best of Philly" award in 2010 when he was named the city's best bartender, and his wife, Laura Doyle, said all these years later she doesn't mind sharing him with the rest of the city. As Doyle gets ready to turn 80, he's scaled back his schedule to one day a week, but he's now worked for three generations of owners, and his tenure has spanned eight Philadelphia mayors. He's also served then Vice President Joe Biden and many other national politicians, athletes and celebrities. Expect Irish pub classics, like the ever-popular Mile High Meatloaf and Shepherd’s Pie, plus Americana bar bites—everything from burgers to pizza and wings (just 35 cents per plate, if you come on a Tuesday night). Ma McGillin finally passed away in 1937 at the ripe old age of 90, passing management of McGillin’s along to her daughter, Mercedes McGillin Hooper, one of 13 children to be raised on the bar’s second floor. Hooper ran the establishment with her nephew Doc for the next 21 years before selling it to brothers Henry Spaniak and Joe Shepaniak (who spelled their names differently) in 1958.
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And that’s how Doyle, 79, a married father of two and grandfather of four, came to be the longest-serving bartender at Philly’s oldest-operating bar. This month marks 50 years for Doyle at McGillin’s, which opened on Drury Street near 13th in 1860, and in true Philly fashion, the bar is throwing a yearlong party in his honor. He started going to the storied Center City bar regularly on Friday nights in the early ‘70s, when his wife would go to her mother’s house to do laundry. The signs of defunct businesses, like department stores Lit Brothers and Gimbels, show the tavern’s lasting power. Mullins said that when the Strawbridge & Clothier store at 8th and Market Streets closed in 2006, employees brought one of its exterior, circular stone signs to be hung there.
The Sons of Ben are the first Philadelphia Union supporters club, and use the Philadelphia civic colors of light blue and yellow as opposed to the darker shades officially used by the team. The Sons of Ben began during a flurry of rumors regarding Major League Soccer’s negotiations with investors regarding a potential team in the Philadelphia region. Sign added to McGillin’s collection of iconic Philadelphia signs. America celebrates 100th Anniversary, The Centennial. John Wanamaker Department Store opens around the corner from McGillin’s (now Macy’s). Wanamaker sign part of McGillin’s collection of iconic Philadelphia signs.
As with most bars and restaurants whose reputations precede them, crowds are commonplace at McGillin’s. Don’t expect lighting-speed service if your visit falls during a weekend or weeknight special (which is basically every day, considering there’s always something on offer). That said, the staff hustle hard to keep service moving. If you can, seek out a barstool in front of barman John Doyle, who’s as much legend as the place itself (he’s been behind the bar at McGillin’s for more than 40 years). In 1910, the bar celebrated its 50th anniversary with a new brick facade and officially changed its name to McGillin’s Olde (the "e" seems to have been dropped in recent years) Ale House.
During Prohibition, Ma McGillin hires a chef. Serves food and ice cream and perhaps, a few tea cups were tipped on the second floor. McGillin’s is only closed a few days a year – and Thanksgiving is one of them.
Bartender celebrates 50 years working at McGillin's Olde Ale House
McGillin's brings back red beer to celebrate Phillies' playoff run - PhillyVoice.com
McGillin's brings back red beer to celebrate Phillies' playoff run.
Posted: Mon, 16 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Get this season’s Eagles Super Mug for & get $2 refills of Bud Light — every Eagles game — all season long! We’ll be serving our famous Iggletini & other Eagles-themed drink specials. Typically includes Pumpkin Martinis, Oktoberfest beers and a rotating list of German and pumpkin food specials including Pumpkin Mac & Cheese, Pork Pumpkin Apple Cider. Doyle’s service even impresses first-time customers. He once served two men a couple of martinis and some stout beers and was shocked when they left him a $500 tip — his biggest ever — which he split with the other bartender working that day. The storied heritage and classic pub ambience draw all types of bar-goers, from college kids avoiding the library to young professionals grabbing after-work beers, families catching an Eagles game, to retirees.
Its beer taps have been flowing since 1860 — making it the oldest continuously operating tavern in Philadelphia. McGillin’s has outlasted Strawbridge’s, the Civil War and even Prohibition. McGillin’s celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2010. McGillin’s Olde Ale House threw open its doors the year Lincoln was elected president. That’s shortly after the Liberty Bell cracked and long before ground was broken for Philadelphia City Hall. The beer taps have been flowing since 1860 — making it the oldest continuously operating tavern in Philadelphia and one of the oldest taverns in the country.
For its annual holiday celebrations, the city’s oldest tavern expects so many customers its restrooms cannot accommodate them. The bar stocks a great selection of local beers like Yuengling, Yards and Victory, while the televisions are always tuned to the most important local sporting event. In 2013, Gourmet magazine called McGillin's one of the three coolest bars in the United States.
So one night when the doorman had to use the bathroom, he asked Doyle to watch the door and he did. “I would stand by the door, look around, and just have a couple of drinks,” he said. Mulllins does not have children, but said he has many nieces and nephews who might someday carry on the family tradition of hosting an Irish pub. In 1993, Mullins’ parents, Chris Sr. and Henry’s daughter, Mary Ellen Spaniak Mullins, bought the tavern when the city was again on shaky economic ground. A comeback that begun under Mayor Ed Rendell’s administration benefitted McGillin’s and every other restaurant and bar in the city.
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