McGillin's Olde Ale House

McGillin's Olde Ale House
Small business
Industry Restaurant
Founded 1860, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Headquarters Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Key people
 Christopher & Mary Ellen Spaniak Mullins, Owners
Christopher Mullins, Jr., General Manager
Products Food and beverage to order, to be consumed on the premises.
Number of employees
 approx 25-50 (worldwide)
Website www.mcgillins.com

Opened in 1860, McGillin's Olde Ale House is the oldest continuously operated tavern in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is located on Drury Street, an alley connecting 13th Street and South Juniper Street, between Chestnut Street and Sansom Street, in Center City. [1][2]

History

The famous pub, officially called The Bell in Hand, opened its doors in 1860 in the home of Irish immigrant William "Pa" McGillin, the owner and operator of the establishment. It was nicknamed McGillin's by those who frequented the establishment, and the bar took on the title as its official name. "Pa" McGillin operated the establishment until his death in 1901. Then his wife, known as "Ma" McGillin continued running the business, which had grown to encompass the oyster house next door as well as the remainder of the McGillin's house, displacing her 13 children. "Ma" ran the restaurant until her own death in 1937, at age 90.[2][3]

After Ma's death, the tavern was run by her daughter, Mercedes McGillin Hooper, until 1958, when she sold it to Henry Spaniak and Joe Shepaniak, brothers and experienced bartenders (who used different spellings of their last names). Since 1993, the bar has been owned by Henry's daughter, Mary Ellen Spaniak Mullins, and her husband Chris Mullins. Their son, Christopher Mullins, Jr., also helps run the day-to-day operations.[2][3]

The ceramic tile floor (main floor), though not original to the bar, was installed by "Pa" McGillin because he was "tired of replacing the wooden floors because of wear and tear from workers' boots. William got the idea from a local butcher shop - little wear and tear, easy to clean."[3]

There is a ship bell and a cow bell behind the bar which the bartenders ring when they get a great tip. They also ring it to "gong" or "boo" a bad karaoke singer. During a Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Eagles or Philadelphia Flyers game, it can be expected that the bell will be rung when the home team scores.

The political website PoliticsPA named it to their list of restaurants frequented by politicians.[4]

In 2007, the national trade magazine Nightclub and Bar included McGillin's in its Editors' Choice Top 100 bars and clubs in the United States. The list is based on annual revenue, effective marketing and advertising, uniqueness to market and other factors.[5]

Notable paraphernalia

McGillin's has become the home to a sizable collection of historical Philadelphia paraphernalia including:

See also

Coordinates: 39°56′54″N 75°09′50″W / 39.94845°N 75.16378°W / 39.94845; -75.16378

References

  1. ↑ "Philadelphia Nightlife: McGillin's Olde Ale House". New York Times.
  2. 1 2 3 "McGillin's Olde Ale House website". mcgillins.com. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Interview". luminosity.antisoc.net. 2006-12-31. Retrieved 2006-11-21.
  4. ↑ "2002 Politics PA Restaurant Guide". PoliticsPA. The Publius Group. Archived from the original on 2003-02-02.
  5. ↑ unsigned (2007). "Top 100 2007". Nightclub & Bar Magazine. Archived from the original (– Scholar search) on May 16, 2008.
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