LAST YEAR A ‘NEVER-ENDING WHIRLWIND’ FOR ORLAND PARK PUB

“A never-ending whirlwind of adapting to whatever the rules are of that day.”

That is how Matthew McCarthy, part-owner of Paddy B’s of Orland Park, described the past year on the anniversary this month of state shutdowns.

McCarthy’s family business closed down completely for a short time in March 2020, opting to clean the entire restaurant, replace a bar top and take apart the kitchen, things that are tough to do when in business year-round.

“We didn’t know what else to do,” McCarthy said. “No one could foresee the whole year.”

That closure could not have come at a worse time for a business with a four-leaf clover on its logo.

“I had enough corned beef to feed an Irish army,” McCarthy said.

The restaurant at 143rd Street and Will-Cook Road pivoted. They were equipped to handle carryout orders, but McCarthy was unsure whether takeout alone would be profitable enough. The process they thought they knew got more complicated, and the plan continued to evolve.

“Carryout really wasn’t the answer,” he said. “It worked out pretty well for us, but man, we hustled.”

He said Paddy B’s was “blessed” to be able to keep most of its 13 employees, thanks to the Paycheck Protection Program. But he said the business had serious concerns about being able to pay its rent. At times, Paddy B’s was losing $20,000 to $30,000 a month, with October and November being the worst.

“It got scary there,” McCarthy said. “It was rough.”

They made the decision early in the pandemic to follow all guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including masks, distancing and contact tracing. McCarthy said the challenges were exacerbated by constant rules changes. Paddy B’s spent “a fortune” making sure everything was well-ventilated and accommodating of all requirements, he said.

When seated dining has been allowed, Paddy B’s has asked that people wear masks while walking to their tables and passing others. Then, they can take them off and enjoy their meals. He also said he still has not put stools back around the bar, because it did not make sense to have customers facing the bartenders in that way.

“I lost business with it,” McCarthy said. “We enforced the masks, which was a nightmare in many cases. People tried to argue with us, but we’re just trying to stay in business.”

McCarthy said they also saw support for those decisions.

“I’ve got a lot of people say they won’t go anywhere else,” he said, noting some practically “adopted” staff members with their generosity.

McCarthy said his father is 70 and still involved with the business, which was established in 1983. Members of the staff have been there for decades. Paddy B’s wanted to protect them and the customers as much as possible.

“I stand by everything we did,” he said. “These are people we had to protect. Believe me, it was a struggle”

But McCarthy said he sees an end in sight. Paddy B’s is open for limited seating again. And while there is no big trolley in Orland Park this year — and McCarthy is not quite ready to accommodate an Irish army — he is looking forward to St. Patrick’s Day.

McCarthy said the silver lining is they always wanted to create an outdoor area, and the pandemic forced their hand. They hope to continue with outdoor seating.

Some of the small things are what McCarthy said he will relish when it is all over. For starters, that means doing away with some of the less environmentally friendly practices.

“I can’t wait to stop using disposable stuff,” he said. “I’ll never do that again.”