Episode 1: Paul (NYC Bar Owner)
Name: Paul Finnegan
JOB: Bar Owner, St. James Gate
EXPERT IN: Community-building, problem solving, and resiliency
Where would we be without the local bar? That corner spot that’s always there, with locals you come to recognize, bartenders that always know what you want, and food that always seems to hit the spot.
That’s how I always felt about the local bar in my neighborhood on the Upper West Side in New York City, St. James Gate. My husband and I have been going to this bar for over a decade -- it used to be one of the few places that stayed open late enough for post-show hangs with his theatre crowd after Shakespeare in the Park. After wrapping up each performance, he and the sound team would cross the park and head to Amsterdam Avenue, crowd around a corner, and order a few rounds of drinks. When I’d swing by (as the “token girlfriend” in the crowd), Paul was always there, with a friendly face. He always managed to remember my name, and everyone -- locals and tourists alike -- seemed to love him.
When I first conceptualized the idea for this podcast, in the summer of 2019, I knew that we could learn a lot from people like Paul. How do they run such community-driven establishments? What goes on behind the scenes?
“There's no better satisfaction than after a good day, sitting down and having a beer and talking about how, how seamless today went and how happy customers were.”
Our initial interview took place in January 2020, just a week leading up to the Super Bowl, and you’ll hear a lot about the kind of things on Paul’s mind at the time -- keeping operations running smoothly, managing what goes on “backstage,” and keeping his attendees happy. This is the heart of what makes bars what they are, and why Paul is so damn good at his job.
But one year ago, things changed pretty dramatically for Paul. March 17, 2020 would have been the 12th anniversary in operation for St. James Gate. But the night before, New York City shut down all bars and restaurants due to the pandemic. Paul ended up keeping the doors shut for nearly five months.
I always planned to kick off my show with Paul -- to me, he’s the epitome of what it means to be an “everyday expert.” But the pandemic changed a lot of things, and it just didn’t feel right for me to release this series when his bar was shut down, and he couldn’t even do his job.
But one year later — in March of 2021 — I’m excited to share his story with all of you. You’ll first hear about 30 minutes of what things were like in the “before-times,” that’s before the pandemic. Then at the end, you’ll hear a five-minute update: What happened since?
Cheers to 13 years strong, Paul. Here’s hoping you all take away as much as I did from our conversation.
You can listen on Apple, on Spotify, or right here — and view the full transcript.
