McGonigal's Pub - Company Bio

The pub sign - right above our main entryway.

(Posted January 2010) There's an interesting story as to how this concept came to be . . . and though it's still a ways away from actually being finished and open for business, I will share with you the steps that led to the idea, the acquistion of the building and everything that's happened since that time. However, this will be a story for a later date once I have a bit more time to get it all down in writing. Your patience is appreciated.

Thank you!

Bryan McGonigal

A bit about the concept...

McGonigal’s Pub (105 S. Cook St.) will occupy both levels of the building, with the first level being a traditional Irish Pub...providing the type of experience these establishments do best. Besides an expansive variety of libations, there will be a full kitchen offering a menu of traditional Irish food along with many pub favorites - in fact we’ll aim to serve the best burger in the area. The second level is a welcome extension of the pub that can seat roughly 100 patrons. It includes its own bar and will be used for extra seating for diners, banquets, private parties, special functions and of course plenty of extra space for the pub during busy times. There will be enough HD televisions upstairs to satisfy all sports fans, plus we plan on regularly offering live music & entertainment on both levels. Overall, McGonigal's Pub will present to its patrons a warm, inviting, fun atmosphere, and you won’t even need to be Irish to enjoy yourself here!

This building was originally built in 1913 as the First State Bank of Barrington, but since the 1940’s has a rich history of being popular restaurants. For the past ten years it has been used for retail purposes, best known in town as the Wolf Camera building. We still have quite a bit of work to do to get it back into bar/restaurant form, but I can promise that once done you will not be disappointed!

If you’re familiar with downtown Barrington you’ll know exactly where the new businesses (the Pub and Park Avenue Wine Bar) are located. If not, suffice to say it’s probably one of the most visible spots in town – off of Cook Street a block east of Rt. 59 (Hough Street), a block south of Main Street (Lake-Cook Road) and on the south side of the Metra train tracks just a couple blocks west of the Barrington train station. Easy access, a ton of public parking and surrounded by shops and other businesses.