Mckibbin’s may expand across Canada
Who would have thought that the little Irish pub with the famous red door at 1426 Bishop St. could one day launch a string of pubs across Canada? Well, that appears to be happening; at a time when similar businesses are struggling or shutting their doors, Mckibbin’s is growing.
Since announcing in October that franchise opportunities were available, Mckibbin’s has been swamped with requests from entrepreneurs with a dream. A new Mckibbin’s is slated to open in Vaudreuil this summer and owners Dean Laderoute and Rick Fon are also in negotiations with interested parties in Laval, Calgary, Saskatoon and Toronto.
It was 99 years ago that Laderoute’s greatgreat-grandfather, George Mckibbin, sailed from Ireland and settled in Ontario, where he opened the first Mckibbin’s. “It burned down shortly after,” Laderoute said, “and we didn’t reopen until 1997.”
That’s when Laderoute, with his friend Fon, decided to open an Irish pub in a downtown Montreal turn-of-the-century mansion, even though they were advised not to.
“Everyone said don’t do it,” Laderoute said. “So, of course,” chimed in Fon, “we did it.”
Despite running out of money right after they signed their lease, the pair persevered and Montreal is the better for it, because they created an iconic food-and-drink emporium that is a second home to legions of Montrealers. “What makes us successful is our clientele,” Laderoute said. “We attract everyone: anglophones, allophones and francophones, and from 20 to 70 years old.”
Mckibbin’s has taken pubs to a new level, fusing an unrivalled menu with authentic friendly atmosphere, exceptional service, live bands and celebrating exciting sports events. “Come in a suit for a meeting, hang with your friends, watch a match or just sit alone and enjoy an Irish coffee,” Fon said. “At Mckibbin’s, it’s all good.”
Using many recipes brought over by La- deroute’s great-great-grandmother, all Mckibbin’s fare is under strict, daily quality control by head chef Christophe Ritoux, and pays homage to traditions held dear by Quebecers who claim some Irish origin (almost 46 per cent of the province’s population). It’s that attention to quality and consistency that makes daily specials at Mckibbin’s true appointment dining, like Friday’s famous slow-roasted prime rib. Or, if you’re brave enough, Canada’s hottest wings and the Rim Reaper Challenge await you (along with a waiver to sign!). There is comfort food such as fish and chips, or steak-and-kidney pie. The mouthwatering Guinness Burgers are served right here and, of course, if you’re hankering for a hot bowl of traditional Irish stew, then Mckibbin’s is the place to be.
Laderoute and Fon, with Dean’s cousin Brent Laderoute, served up a second helping with their winning formula six years ago in the West Island, where it was an instant success. And two years ago, Mckibbin’s headed east to the Main, even though –again – accepted wisdom said you couldn’t open an Irish pub on St. Laurent Blvd., especially in February. Did the Main really need an Irish pub? “That’s exactly what it needed!” Dean Laderoute said. “Not everyone wants to get dolled up for a meal or spend $24 for a glass of vodka.”
Again, the Mckibbin’s recipe was warmly embraced. “It’s amazing, like a magnet,” Fon said.“we saw the same popularity with the exact same huge, diverse clientele. It’s the Mckibbin’s magic.”
Helping conjure that magic are some 120 employees whose friendly and professional service speak to a genuine pub culture, regardless of location. “We’re an Irish pub,” Laderoute said. “Our decor, menu and outlook are the same at every location. We are local, we are Montreal, and you feel it.
“But for 15 years people have been continuously asking us to franchise or sell. There is so much interest in what we’ve done here, but we never felt prepared – until now. We took years to get it right, so now we are ready.”
Every time they were told not to do something, “we did and we succeeded,” Lader- oute said. Some audacious marketing and exciting events have helped (thanks to Goofyfoot Promotions) – like getting Black Watch drums and pipes to play the Bishop St. opening, and hauling West Islanders downtown via a party bus for the St. Patrick’s Day parade.
The word franchise, Laderoute noted, can connote impersonal business relationships, but in Mckibbin’s fashion it envisions “more of a partnership, so that we all succeed.” Fon cautioned, however, “this is not Mckibbin’s in a box, far from it. What we are doing is pulling back the curtain on how to create the Mckibbin’s experience wherever you are.”
Whether you’re talking the historic threefloor Bishop St. mansion; the copper-ceilinged Main pub with its dark walnut bar; or the West Island pub with theme rooms, large stage and terrace, Mckibbin’s offers 28 imported beers on tap, unrivalled cuisine, the best live bands and exciting sports viewing on multiple screens. Laderoute and Fon also have plans for bottling and selling Mckibbin’s Rim Reaper Hot Sauce, Mckibbin’s Authentic Guinness BBQ Sauce and Mckibbin’s Famous Salad Dressing.
Meanwhile, franchising the pub itself is moving forward apace. If your dream is to own a successful business and be your own boss, then visit the Mckibbin’s website and fill out the franchise form.