Pub’s new owners to host grand opening
Lisa Craig and Larry Boitel don’t plan to veer much from selections
Talk about unfortunate timing.
Lisa Craig was about to finalize the purchase of Three Blind Mice Irish Pub in downtown Mount Clemens right before St. Patrick’s Day — just as the coronavirus crisis was taking hold in Michigan. The pandemic forced the closure of bars and restaurants throughout the state on March 16. The news was distressing for bar owners counting on extra St. Patrick’s revenue and workers who rely on tips to pay their bills.
“I was absolutely devastated,” Craig said. “We were in the process of wrapping up the deal after a verbal agreement when COVID-19 hit.”
Brad Teagan, the founder and former owner of Three Blind Mice, had paid for an outdoor tent, along with extra food, beer and other beverages in anticipation of a big bash.
Fortunately, Teagan was willing to work with Craig and her partner, Larry Boitel. He renegotiated the deal and was supportive during the process.
“Brad was wonderful to work with,” she said.
It took Craig and Boitel four months to get the liquor license transferred, a process that would have taken four to six weeks in pre-COVID-19 days.
Seven months later, the couple is running the pub. A grand opening celebration will be held Saturday.
Three Blind Mice opened in 2013 as a hot spot for beer and whiskey connoisseurs, along with a great menu of pub-inspired fare and live weekend entertainment.
The two-story, 4,270-square-foot building had housed numerous identities in its 120 years on Main Street. It previously has been Chrissy’s, One-O-One Saloon, Voodoo Lounge and others. The pub has a cozy environment featuring lots of oak and brass along with quaint touches such as a strip of 2013 pennies embedded on the bar trim.
There’s also a spacious outdoor patio with lounge couches and tables.
The new owners plan to retain much of that vibe and gradually make improvements. They will retain the Three Blind Mice title.
“I love everything about this place - the history of the building, how it looks, just everything about it,” Craig said. “I didn’t want to change that name at all.”
Craig and Boitel had given the pub a test drive, so to speak, having been customers in the past.
Craig is a veteran of the restaurant/bar industry. At age 17, she worked in a family-owned franchise restaurant before working for corporate eateries such as TGIF, Applebee’s and Max & Erma’s at Partridge Creek in Clinton Township. She previously co-owned Firehouse Pub in Chesterfield Township before deciding to take a break from the business.
Boitel is a retired Michigan State Police trooper. The two are also boaters who enjoy spending time on Lake St. Clair.
“We met over food,” he said. “While I was single, I would eat at one of her places, and I thought ‘ Wow, this is a good thing. The meat is always fresh, the quality of food is outstanding.’ We became a couple after talking. We’re on the same page when it comes to just about everything. But I’ve learned everything from her about this business, I’ve learned to follow her lead.”
Adding Chef Dion Altodonna, they’ve tweaked the menu of burgers, sandwiches and salads, but retain the focus on fresh meat and produce. Popular dishes include meatloaf, an open-face turkey sandwich, baked macaroni and cheese, and cottage pie.
T he alcohol selection is voluminous with 300 bottles of whiskey and bourbon of different ages, along with a vast collection of tequila, gin and vodka. There are 20 rotating beer handles including Atwater Brewery’s Dirty Blonde, Blue Moon, Kuhnhenn’s Drippa and familiar beers like Coors Light and Miller Genuine Draft.
“There’s a lot to choose from,” Craig said.
They plan to make some changes to the exterior and are working with Mount Clemens city officials on securing a grant to finance a facelift. But they won’t take away from the “timeless” architectural design.
A grand opening celebration is planned for Saturday, with live acoustic music by Jim Woolsey on the first level and DJ Kenny Love on the second, along with an appearance from the Hornito Tequila girls.