Mullarkey’s Irish Pub in Downtown Willoughby, which is Lake County’s oldest Irish pub, will soon be put up for sale after having been in business for the last three decades.
Mullarkey’s, established in 1996, is named after founder John D. Bowers’ wife, Eileen Mullarkey Bowers. However, now he is ready to retire after 30 years. The pub will remain open and continue serving customers while Bowers searches for the right buyer.
“We are not in a rush to sell Mullarkey’s,” he said. “We have a great staff and great customers, and we will wait to find the right buyer who believes in the future of Downtown Willoughby as much as we do. The time has come for me to retire and spend more time with my wife, family and friends.”
Bowers poured the pub’s first Guinness Gold-Certified pint at the corner of Erie and Second when only two other bars and restaurants operated in Downtown Willoughby. As more businesses opened, Bowers began encouraging neighboring owners to work together to promote the entire district rather than market their establishments independently…