Kids and dogs welcome, adults tolerated is the sign found outside McPs and it tells you all you need to know about this restaurant – you come here for fun. Owner, Greg McPartlin, is a jolly man with a great sense of humor. When he speaks, people lean in and find themselves in fits of laughter. Not that he is a comedian intentionally, just because even the briefest conversation makes you feel like he is someone you want to be around. There goes that train of thought, guess Ill wait to catch another one, he says during his conversation with me about McPs.
McPs Irish Pub (at 1107 Orange Avenue) was formed in 1992 by former navy seal, Greg McPartlin. After spending years in the Coronado real estate business, Greg found a different opportunity for his life plan and jumped on it. Across from Gregs real estate practice on the upper side of town was a joint called Manhattan Room which was famous in Coronado for its pizza. When they went out of business, Greg joined forces with architect Dale St. Dennis who helped transform Manhattan Room into todays cheerful McPs.
Originally, McPs Irish Pub was a smaller dining and cocktail joint that played live Irish music nightly. Although you would not guess it today, McPs did have a rough start for the first couple years. Greg, himself, spent many years as a bartended at McPs serving during happy hour. Greg recalls, A lot of navy seals came in that were from my era. They didnt have a place to wind down for happy hour, and we were a fun little place. He chuckles Plus they thought they could get free drinks out of me.
The man behind McPs is as interesting as the restaurant itself. Greg moved to Coronado in a time that seems foreign to many locals- a time before the bridge was built. In the spring of 1969, Greg McPartlin was transferred to San Diego to be a corpsman. All around McPs you can find photos and awards from his military days. That is a story, even too big for another article. To learn all about Gregs SEAL life, I invite you to read his memoir.
As far as the restaurant is concerned, reputation is key in Coronado for all good businesses. Within the first few years of its inception, locals learned how friendly and protective McPs is of its costumers, and women especially felt comfortable going to McPs and having a few drinks. In a world before match.com and tinder, Thursday nights at McPs was the hot place to go for boy meet girl. People lined up on the block near Bank of America trying to squirm inside for the fun. Greg describes what McPs looked like before McPs took over what was formerly the Arco station and made it into their back patio and parking lot where many locals bikes safely rest. McPs became the first outdoor dining place in town.
On the outside patio of McPs, dogs join in on family dinners and linear fire pit on the tall tables warm up beautiful Coronado nights. The dynamic patio was designed by Pete Joseph who currently operates the Lake Tahoe location. Pete was a Coronado contractor and with his eye for design, he built the patio, an addition in the back, and a second floor which is currently used for administrative work. Although Pete was a tremendous asset in Coronado, he wanted a change of scenery and it became apparent by McPs popularity, that it would better serve California to have two locations.
There are a number of reasons to expand McPs to Lake Tahoe. Greg, originally from the Midwest, explains that he loves seasons. For all the benefits of living in Coronado the one thing that is lacking is inarguably seasons. After visiting Tahoe for a number of years Greg knew that the one thing that would make Lake Tahoe better was a McPs there. Pete was the perfect person for the job to operate McPs TapHouse Grill in Lake Tahoe. The biggest difference seen so far is some very unusual guests at McPs TapHouse Grill, for instance over Labor Day weekend when a bear wandered through.
Back on the other side of California, there remains much more to McPs then just the patio. Inside, Coronados McPs Irish Grill is equally as captivating. There are nineteen TVs to watch any sports game anyone could want and live music remains an ingrained part of McPs. Every night live music rocks McP’s, and weather permitting- a live band will play outside on the patio. Coronados infamous band, Rons Garage, plays every Sunday and many times a week. Peggy comes from south San Diego to enjoy McPs with her husband. She explains what she loves about the restaurant, You can still talk to people. Even though it has a sports bar feel during the game, its not obnoxious. You just feel like you are a part of something bigger.
[Locals surrounding McP’s on Saturday evening to listen to Ron’s Garage]
That is in essence what McPs encapsulates- the spirit of Coronado. Greg sums up the cliental the occupies McPs as anywhere from the newly wed to nearly dead. He is correct. As long as you are looking for a good time, with good people, good drinks, good food, good music- then youll fall in love with McPs good vibes.
Visit their website at http://www.mcpspub.com/ – better yet, go in person.
