The greens at Riverbend Golf Course in Kent looked serene in the late-afternoon light Tuesday.
But the atmosphere was considerably more intense in the confines of the course’s restaurant facility, where a new business was quickly coming to fruition.
Mick Purdy, co-owner of Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub, stood amid segments of wood trim, a nearly completed bar and bustling construction workers, surveying the scene with obvious excitement.
“It’s crying out for an Irish bar,” he said of Kent, his Belfast accent making it obvious he’s the real deal, when it comes to knowing about Irish food and culture.
Purdy, who owns the business with cousin Adrian Kelly, is bringing his family-themed Gaelic restaurant and pub to the facility formerly occupied by the Firecreek Grill, which went out of business earlier this year.
While the cousins’ lease with the city actually started in June, and they had hoped to be in operation by the end of that month, putting the final details into place construction-wise has taken longer than expected.
Purdy said he’s now hoping to be open for business by sometime next week, but they are still hammering out some of the smaller details. It will be very soon, he assured.
“It’s just a matter of time,” he said.
The Kent Reporter will publish the eatery’s opening, as well as a grand opening date and time, as that information becomes available.
While it’s a new face in the crowd here, Mick Kelly’s is a bona fide presence up north, where it’s a part of the Burien community, both in terms of business and public service.
“Mick and Adrian are great guys,” said Pete Petersen, Riverbend’s superintendent of golf operations, in an earlier interview this spring. “They’ve been business (leader) of the year in Burien, and have been running charitable functions.”
Purdy said community involvement and fundraisers also is their long-term plan for Kent.
“The big focus for us is being family-friendly,” he said, noting one of their specials will be giving free food items to youngsters who come in with their family during soccer season, and who are wearing their uniforms.
“I love kids running around the place,” he said.
Purdy also noted they’re planning to generate community fundraising as well, choosing special nights to donate proceeds to worthwhile charities. He’s hopeful to have something in place before the year is out, he said.
“We’re still piecing it together,” he said, noting the Burien restaurant has generated upward of $200,000 in those kind of fundraising efforts.
“The Kent community can expect to see Mick Kelly’s get involved in the community,” Purdy said.
The menu is going to be a sampling of Irish as well as American and other fare. That means corned beef and shepherd’s pie sharing menu space with wood-fired pizzas and gourmet burgers, among other entrees that have proven popular in Burien.
Besides the cuisine, there also will be multiple opportunities to learn about Irish culture: live music, which Purdy said will be a regular feature at the restaurant, as well as Setanta, the Irish sports network that plays up traditional Celtic sports like hurling (turn to page 6 for more on that) Gaelic football and rugby.
There’ll also be regular televised sports on tap as well, Purdy said.
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