By Paddy McCarthy
I am so proud now as I am going to tell you a beautiful story about one of New York’s oldest family bar and restaurants, yes, that is the one and only Maggie’s Place (22 East 47th Street at Madison Avenue; 212-753-5757).
Before I get to it I just have to tell you this, that when I immigrated to America in 1982, I was brought into Maggie’s Place by my great friend and colleague, the late Joe Murphy, RIP, from the Irish Echo and Irish Voice newspaper days who was my mentor and teacher that gave me all the guidance for the media business that will never be forgotten and I will always be so proud of him for all he thought of me and directed me on the rights and wrongs of the media business that I have put into practice to this day.
Now back to my story of Maggie’s Place that was opened in October 1974 by Teddy and Maggie Whelan. It was the realization of their American dream. Teddy and Maggie both immigrated from Dublin in 1958. Teddy came over on Aer Lingus’s first transatlantic flight and Maggie soon followed on the SS America out of Cobh in County Cork.
They both started out in retail; Teddy as a shoe salesmen and Maggie at Elizabeth Arden. They then worked together in the Irish Pavilion at the 1964 World’s Fair.
Later Teddy moved on to Downey’s, a famous theater bar on 8th Avenue. Teddy would tell great stories about playing cards after hours at Jason Robard’s apartment (with Lauren Bacall yelling at them to go home) and of Peter O’Toole dancing on the bar.
At the same time Maggie worked at the Irish Pavilion on 57th Street before Tommy Makem owned it.
Maggie’s Place is the oldest family-owned restaurant and bar in the Midtown area. In 1992, Maggie and Teddy’s son Martin Whelan took over Maggie’s Place, renovated the space and brought in his brother Mark Whelan, a Culinary Institute of America alumnus. They have built on their parents American Dream and now own eleven other restaurants throughout Manhattan.
In 2007 Martin had his first child. Her name? Maggie (Margaret when she’s misbehaving). Of course, we don’t know for sure, but she just may be greeting our customers at the door in 2030!
This is history that will be hard to follow folks and few have achieved like the Whelan family with all they have created down thought the years. Maggie’s Place is still the flagship that their son Martin has continued with to this day and also with his Stout NYC Hospitality Group that consists of 15 owner-operated bar/restaurants throughout New York City that Teddy and Maggie would be very proud of to this day.
It is Maggie’s Place’s 50th Saint Patrick’s Day this year and no other establishment on the parade route has been around as long as they have. So don’t forget to visit Maggie’s Place when you are visiting the Big Apple on your next visit. Also visit Stout Hospitality NYC group’s website at www.stoutnychospitalitygroup.com for many other fine establishments in New York City.
The County Cork BB&P’s Association’s dinner that was held last Saturday at Antun’s in Queens Village was absolutely fabulous with a great attendance of 400 guests. The music was the brilliant from Tommy Flynn and his New York Showband, I know how he likes for me to say that about him, but it’s true they are brilliant.
This is what I have said many a time and that is why I love been out and about as you never know who you’re going to meet. Well, I was sitting at the dias table with a lot dignitaries so I felt like I was someone, ha ha.
I was rubbing shoulders with some very nice people like the Lord Mayor of Cork City Kieran McCarthy and the Cork County Mayor Councilor Frank O’Flynn along with Cork Association President Tom Browne, Treasa Goodwin Smyth, Father Druid, Congressman Tom Suozzi, Cork’s Man of the Year Gary Power, Woman of the Year Linda Croston, The Cork City Chief Executive Ann Doherty and other guests including 60 Years’ Members Mike Dorgan and Denis O’Connor.
It was a great event, the woman who is always there to help and to make sure all goes well is the one and only Mae O’Driscoll. Please forgive as I probably left someone out but I do like to recognize all the volunteers for the great work they all do to make everything go so well and the evening was perfect.
I just got great news that East Durham is holding its first St Patrick’s Day parade in 32 years thanks to work by the local community and business. I have to congratulate all the volunteers who have made this happen in the Irish Riviera in the Catskills mountains, well done to all.
That’s it for this week, see you all again next week when I am Out&About again with a little bit of gossip.