NO POT O’ GOLD BUT AREA BARS MAKE DO
Owners credit patrons for mask self-policing and getting home safely
There were no Irish singalongs or any other sounds coming from one of Mount Clemens oldest bars on St. Patrick’s Day.
That’s because Mangan’s Irish Hut, tucked in a corner parking lot off Groesbeck Highway just north of Cass Avenue, was closed up tight Wednesday.
A sign on the door informed visitors the pub was closed due to “governor’s restriction and limitations and COVID-19.”
But 90-year-old owner Bill Mangan said he wasn’t feeling well in recent days and didn’t want to take a chance on getting the virus from what likely would have been a packed bar.
“Money isn’t everything,” Mangan said when asked why he would let his staff miss out on one of biggest beer drinking days of year.
“I’ve got a lot of friends and I’ve outlived a lot of people,” he added. “I plan to jump out of an airplane in June to see what that’s like. Today, I’m going to celebrate St. Patrick’s by having corned beef at my granddaughter’s house and come back tomorrow.”
A steady stream of would-be customers drove up, only to learn the saloon was closed for the day.
“I am shocked,” said Dave Wills, who expected a lively crowd at the Hut. “There’s no tent out here or anything. But I hope everything works out for (Bill Mangan).”
Elsewhere in Mount Clemens, the weather cooperated as hundreds of people flocked to Irish-themed bars, which had capacity limits and an 11 p.m. curfew due to the pandemic.
Smaller, more orderly crowds assembled, often gathering in small groups seated at tables, while others enjoyed the sunshine and preferred to stand outdoors while enjoying green-colored beer.
“It feels good to be outside again after all this crazy world has been through for the past year,”
said Shannon Leighton of Chesterfield as she attended a party at Three Blind Mice Irish Pub in Mount Clemens.
Larry Boitel, who coowns the pub with Lisa Craig, said they purchased the place last March right as COVID-19 forced everything to shut down. On Wednesday, the place was hopping with live music in an outdoor tent and the actual pub.
“Even if we break even today, we win because there are places that are closed today and many of these customers who religiously go elsewhere are wandering in here for the first time,” Doitel said.
Like other bars, Three Blind Mice had plenty of hand sanitizers available. Most of the crowd wore masks, until it came time to eat or drink, and observing social distancing.
“I think it’s fantastic,” said customer John Dzakna, who was with his brother and girlfriend. “Everyone’s out here having a good time, having a couple of beverages and everyone is getting home safely, and I’m proud of that.”
A few blocks away at O’Halloran’s Public House & Hall, a quieter crowd was enjoying the weather, sitting at tables on the heated outdoor patio and indoors in the hall.
Owner Krystal Robertson said guests were well behaved as they sipped beer and enjoyed a bite to eat.
“So far, so good,” she said in mid-afternoon. “People pretty much are self-policing themselves, we don’t have to tell them to put their masks on when they get up to go to the bathroom I’m happy to see a bit of normalcy.”
The holiday came as COVID-19 numbers were trending upwards around Michigan.
Despite 22% of Macomb County residents having already received a vaccination shot, the average number of new COVID-19 cases in Michigan and the testing positivity rate have doubled in the past three weeks, according to public health officials. New cases have reached their highest weekly average since Jan. 20, when Michigan bars and restaurants were still closed for dine-in service. Customers were allowed back inside in early February.