Two Co Antrim brothers, one of whom came to the US as a teen with just "a couple of pounds in his pocket", have shared how they rose through the ranks of a century-long establishment to make it the thriving hotspot it is today.
Sean Patrick McMullan, 51, and Conn Brendan McMullan, 56, made the move from Co Antrim to New Jersey in their late teens and early 20s, enticed by adventure, opportunity, and wonderment at what the States had to offer, the Irish Star reports.
Sean was just 18 years old when he transferred over to the seaside town of North Wildwood from Carnlough where he took a job as a janitor at the Anglesea Pub in late 1991.
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From there, various roles at the watering hole ensued including a busboy, a waiter, and a bartender, while Conn grafted away in the background at other eateries with his wife, Debbie, 56, before the three joined forces in 2020.
Now, more than 30 years on, the Anglesea is not only a hit with holidaymakers from New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware but with the huge Irish contingent nearby who can't pass without stopping for a pint and a curry pizza.
"I came to the US on a 90-day visa to feel out a bit of America and see what it was all about but I was fully prepared to leave after the 90 days," Sean told IrishStar.com.
"I worked in a hotel in Ireland as a youngster where I got to meet a lot of US tourists, plus I was interested in American sports - particularly the Philadelphia Eagles - as well as history and current affairs, so I knew I had to come.
"The pub had been closed when I took over as manager in 2012. and had run itself into the ground. America was still in a financial crisis from the late 2000s so it was a bit of a gamble on my side to come back because I had a steady job at the time - I owned a restaurant on the island - but after our first night of trading, we were flying.
"The Anglesea has now become a mainstay for the Irish American community. People are very happy that we came back and that made transitioning into ownership a very easy concept because we were already a thriving business."
The building originally opened in 1885 as the Germantown Hotel and was once a place where local fishers could enjoy themselves after a long day on the water.
In 1917, it changes hands with the Bishop family and has been known as the Anglesea Pub ever since. Sean entered the picture in 1991 when then-owners Ralph and Irene Rittenhouse, who had just finished transforming the Anglesea from an American tavern into an Irish bar, recognized his flair for Irish hospitality and "took a chance on him".
Sean navigated three different owners until 2006 when the pub started to take a different direction - "It was no fault of the owners, it just wasn't my cup of tea," Sean admits - but in 2012 when Velma and Tony Suppa took the reigns, "fantastic, salt of the earth people", Sean grasped the opportunity to resurrect the pub's forgotten Irish roots.
He has never looked back.
"I worked for Velma and Tony in a management role and in 2020 we bought the place," Sean explained. "It was in the midst of covid and a lot of people were shaking their heads, asking how we were going to buy a pub in the middle of a pandemic, but fortunately, we had a lot of outdoor space to tap into.
"It was definitely a shot in the dark and my thoughts back then were how to keep our strong workforce engaged, but our efforts paid off. We kept the menu reasonably low priced and navigated it the best we could.
"The first summer was quite tough because folks didn't know where we were going with the pub. It had gone between an American and Irish style for years so there was an identity factor there to overcome.
"We've kept it as Irish as possible, though, and operate as a family place. There are lots of good qualities about it."
The McMullans' heritage has seamlessly incorporated itself into the pub's atmosphere. Its menu is filled with traditional favorites - Irish wedges, seafood chowder, the Paddy Wagon burger - as well as alcoholic beverages that hark back to the motherland such as McMullan's Hot Toddy, McMullan's Irish Coffee, and Celtic Lemonade.
Irish musicians play at the pub regularly, while the four-day Irish Fall Festival brings in around 200,000 to the island, many of whom will head to the Anglesea for merriment and St Patrick's Day, of course, is always go.
Celtic FC supporters near and far also recognize it as an ideal joint to watch matches, particularly as Sean and Conn are first cousins with newly-appointed Hoops manager Brendan Rodgers.
"We used to have a supporters club, it was a big thing in the late 90s, we'd have around 15-25 people show up for games, but the internet killed us a bit as a lot of people opted to stay at home, but we still show them," Sean said.
"We consider our staff family, too. Everyone knows each other's name and lifelong friendships are born here. My daughter, Caitlin McMullan, has grown up in the Anglesea and has helped me out behind the bar from time to time.
"My nephew, Brian McMullan, is currently over from Ireland working as the head chef. He's the backbone of the place. My ex-wife has played a part, as has my fiancé Megan, who has worked here since 2012 and adds so much.
"It's ideal because instead of being here 24 hours a day, I can come in at night along with my sister-in-law and my brother can come in the morning. People my age are thinking about retiring but I'm just heading into this!"
Sean reveals he's seen a decline in Irish youngsters coming to North Wildwood on J1 visas recently, along with high school graduates or soon-to-be students from the UK who would normally flock to the east coast before term.
Even though those surge of visitors has faded away, he is adamant that America still holds so much for Irish people hoping to make a go at life across the pond, and that it's "still the Land of Opportunity" if people want it to be.
"You can't take it for granted when you get here because it's not easy and you have to work hard to get ahead but you reap the benefits," Sean added. "I've made a lot of good friends but I've also made a lot of sacrifices.
"With covid, we've seen a change in what people want, which is being outdoors at any time of the year. We have plans in place to extend the restaurant by taking away the beer garden to make way for more decking.
"It will mean more seats and more people in the door which we're looking forward to. It's been a successful three years with hopefully many more to come."
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