Latest news with #McGillin
Axios
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Hundreds of couples have found love at this Philly pub
If you look at its stats, you might think McGillin's Olde Ale House is brewing love potions in the back. Why it matters: The Center City pub, the oldest continuously operating in the city, boasts of being the " most romantic place in Philadelphia." It has love ledgers to back up that claim: album books brimming with pictures and love stories of hundreds of couples who met there. The big picture: So what's its secret? "We offer the atmosphere your grandparents experienced," bar owner Chris Mullins tells Axios. "All the pretenses are checked at the door." And they mean all. To get to the front entrance, you have to traverse an alleyway, navigating past dumpsters. But once inside, couples say, the ambience is the perfect mix of "party" and "home," including during holidays, when McGillin's decks out the place. Booze helps too. "We were both obliterated," Stuart Redman recalls. "That part was mutual." With a little liquid courage, Redman approached his now-fiancée Sabrina Mechler after she finished a toasty rendition of Owl City's " Fireflies," one of his favorite songs. The rest is history. Zoom in: Retired FBI agent Gordon Zacrep was at McGillin's with some coworkers one fateful Friday night in 1972. "That was one of our favorite places to go. It was convenient from where we [worked]," Zacrep tells Axios. The bar was packed, and they ended up sitting at a table with his future wife, Eileen Kennedy, and her friend. Zacrep says they mingled, danced and stayed up all night talking. Fast forward: For their 25th anniversary, Zacrep rented a limousine to re-create the magic from the couple's wedding night, including a stop for drinks at McGillin's. The intrigue: Kennedy's friend married one of Zacrep's colleagues whom she also met that night. In 1976, Mary and Jack Butler met there during happy hour. They've been together more than four decades and still have McGillin's wedding mugs they toast from each anniversary. "I liked everything about him," says 73-year-old Mary, who was surprised when the dark-haired, blue-eyed stranger planted a goodbye kiss on her as she boarded her train home that night. "We've had a good life together," Jack says. The bottom line: James Zingarini says he might never have talked to his wife, Katie, if he hadn't met her at McGillin's. The couple matched on a dating app weeks before, but he never messaged her. After Katie spotted James at the bar singing Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up," she figured he might appreciate persistence. Soon enough, the two were swooning to Elton John's "Tiny Dancer." They'll celebrate their second anniversary this year. "That was one of those moments I'll never forget," James tells Axios.
CBS News
11-02-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Philadelphia hotels, bars and restaurants expecting uptick in business thanks to Eagles parade
Excitement is building for the Eagles parade on Friday, which happens to fall on Valentine's Day. Hotels, bars and restaurants are expecting a boost in business. Eagles fan Brian Letrinko was planning to fly back home to Kansas City on Monday, but after the Birds' Super Bowl victory, he's extending his stay in Philadelphia with hopes of going to the parade, which means he's spending more money. "Instead of buying one hat, I bought six hats," Letrinko said. "Instead of buying one drink, I buy drinks for the whole bar. You're here. It's family." Eagles fans flocked to McGillin's Olde Ale House on Monday to celebrate the team's Super Bowl victory against the Kansas City Chiefs. Chris Mullins, co-owner of McGillin's Olde Ale House, said the parade will bring even more customers to the bar than Valentine's Day alone. "I think we can expect well over a million people in downtown Philadelphia and I would expect thousands of people will try to get in here," Mullins said. Restaurants are also seeing an uptick in business. At John's Place in Spring Garden, owner Tony Kosmatos said he's expecting to sell up to 1,000 pizzas on Friday. "I'm assuming it's going to be very busy," Kosmatos said. "Last time the parade happened, it was our busiest day in the history of our store. I mean, we ran out of everything." That's why this time Kosmatos is quadrupling his order of bread, eggs and other ingredients to make pizza. At the Courtyard by Marriott in South Philadelphia, general manager Derek Beckman said more people are making reservations for Thursday night. "From last night to today, we've sold about 50% more rooms overnight, so it's been a huge increase in business," Beckman said.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Eagles Super Bowl: Area businesses cash in as watch parties sell out
The Brief Businesses in Philadelphia are cashing in on the Super Bowl frenzy. Restaurants and bars are hosting ticketed events Sunday, giving Eagles' fans a place to eat, drink and cheer their hearts out. Philadelphia Super Bowl watch parties are selling out. Popular venues sold out within minutes of sales opening. PHILADELPHIA - On the eve of Super Bowl LIX, as the Philadelphia Eagles prepare to take on the Kansas City Chiefs, Philly business owners said advanced ticketing and planning has helped them manage large Super Bowl events. Meanwhile, Eagles' fans were out crowding into bars and restaurants Saturday celebrating Super Bowl Eve. What we know Philadelphia restaurants and bars are hosting ticketed Super Bowl watch parties on Sunday and many of them are selling out. Chris Mullins, Sr. of McGillin's Old Ale House said their watch party sold out within three minutes of sales opening last week. They were also packed on Saturday for Super Bowl Eve. By the numbers "We opened at 11 and by 12 we were full on the first floor and the second floor full by 12:30," said Mullins. McGillin's Old Ale House will welcome limited walk-ins starting at 1 p.m. but the venue will be closed for the ticketed Super Bowl event. Yards Brewing Company also sold out their watch party within ten minutes of sales opening last Thursday. The brewery will sell beer to-go starting at 10 a.m. Sunday but General Manager Frank McLaughlin said they're closed for the ticketed event that starts a couple of hours before the big game. "We have a DJ, we have a raffle, we're giving away a TV," said McLaughlin. "We've got a green seltzer called bird juice, so that's really popular." Celebrating Eagles Eagles' fans have been heading to Craftsman Row Saloon to celebrate the Eagles in Mardi Gras style. The restaurant and bar is decked out in New Orleans flavor including their menu items such as the Combo Po'Boy, loaded fries and the Let's Hunt Milkshake. "It's going to be a big party in here like a New Orleans party, a Philly party blended together, and when we win it's going to be amazing," said owner George Tsiouris of Craftsman Row. Tables are sold out for the Super Bowl watch party at Craftsman Row, but Tsiouris said to call and check to see if there were any last-minute cancelations. First-come first-serve walk-ins are also available for standing room and bar seating. Celebrating at home Many events may be sold out, but plenty of Eagles fans said they'll have front row seats from Super Bowl watch parties at home. "It's frowned upon if you spray champagne on a public institution ceiling, but at our house it's acceptable," said David Beaver of Wilmington.
