"Home Is Where the Harp Is"

After a couple of trips to the St. Pete Beach area to scout existing business locations, we were sure this is what we wanted to do. A commercial Realtor showed us several existing establishments that could be converted into an authentic Irish Pub. A beach bar at the corner of Corey Avenue and Sunset Way was for sale. The lady owner was anxious to sell her business but we had to meet with the property owners first. We met Pete and Helen, who were also business owners from Detroit. They questioned us on our experience in this field. We agreed to a lease agreement for ten years and gave us the right to purchase the land when they wanted to sell. The agreement was simply a handshake, a hug and was written on a napkin. My heritage was Irish, represented by the Harp, and Bob’s heritage was Scottish, represented by the thistle, a strong weed that will rise again. The Harp and Thistle was established at 650 Corey Avenue, St. Pete Beach, Florida. It soon was recognized as the first and only authentic Irish Pub on the west coast of Florida. Pat and Bob Packer were the sole owners and their daughter, Jennifer, was the manager. Gerry O’Kane, an Irish born entertainer and a very good friend came with us on our move to Florida and became our house entertainer as well as doubling as a bartender when needed. We decided from the beginning that it would be Irish Celtic music only. We moved into a condo and that allowed us to devote all of our time to the business. We quickly realized that starting a business here was more complicated than in the larger city of Detroit. Permits and fees were required for everything even to the point of flying the American flag. But we did exactly that with the Florida State flag and Irish flag on each side. We quickly got attention when the Wilson Hartnell Advertising firm from Dublin shot a commercial at our Pub for Lucozade Energy drink sold in the British Isles. They wanted sunshine and Irish looking people. The actors were provided by the Dot Burns Modeling Agency from Orlando but the language dubbed over when shown back in Ireland. As I told the press, “We know so many people in Ireland and now they will be able to see our Pub on their television.” Our first guests were John and Kathleen Stack and their family. They were having so much fun and not realizing that it was two in the morning. The Chief of Police came in asking if we had a license to stay open beyond the time. He said with a little humor, “We’ll let it go this time.” After the filming crew left, we went into the remodeling stage of transforming a bar into an authentic Irish Pub. Once again, Bob’s design, engineering and woodworking skills prevailed for the transformation. A new wrap-around deck was built with picnic table seating as well as a narrow bar attached to the building. Destination arrows were mounted on a pole showing nautical miles to Dublin, Glasgow and London. Pointing the opposite way was an arrow stating it was seventeen feet to home – the entrance to our Pub. Personal paintings from home lined every inch of the wall as well as being attached to the ceiling. A stage was at the entrance. I had the existing pool table, cigarette and pinball machines removed. We needed the space for tables and chairs. Bob spent a lot of time designing and building a sign from a large piece of oak bearing the name “Harp and Thistle”, embossed in gold paint. Of course, Guinness, Harp, Bass, wine and other fine spirits were available as well as authentic Irish food.