Old article on Kildares business practices at West Chester site:
http://www.phillymag.com/articles/entrepreneurs-irish-guy-is-smiling/
This bar, one of six Kildares Irish pubs that the tiny, five-foot-six Magrogan has opened in the Philly region in the past four years, is the one he considers his baby. It was his first. Its where most of his hangers-on and good friends congregate. Its where he can pretty safely get hammered and not feel like hes abusing his power too much.
So far today, Magrogan has been to each of his bars some more than once popping on the air for quick segments with every live radio broadcast, jumping up onstage with every band, checking in with every general manager to ensure that theyre all executing the Kildares vision. The first part of the day, he was in his Hummer, negotiating the slippery roads caused by last nights sleet storm. But he was always upbeat even when it appeared the lousy weather and sparse crowds might set him back $50,000. Once it gets later in the day, if people can get some babysitters, theyll be out here, he said. And if we dont get them tonight, those people will come tomorrow for Sunday brunch. People will come. Youll see.
He was right. By evening, the bars did pick up the Manayunk Kildares had a line around the block and a bar full of Car Bombing college kids who probably wouldve been there even if thered been a terrorist attack on Main Street. And by 12:30 a.m., everything is in full swing here in West Chester. Magrogan is never without a Guinness the whole time hes here, and even throws down a few of his own Car Bombs. His only problem is the hernia thats begun poking out of his groin due to the fact hes spent the day on his feet.
Then, right in the middle of the drunken revelry, Kildares is invaded by local police decked out in blue nylon jackets and shining their flashlights. In tow is notorious West Chester zoning board stickler Mike Perrone, whos there to shuffle the rowdy crowd out into the icy parking lot, hoping that most (if not all) of them will end the night early because the bar is over capacity, according to the boroughs zoning laws. Its the ultimate buzz kill.
Some of the revelers do leave. Most dont. And 30 minutes later, after arguing *with the cops in the parking lot, 90 percent of the crowd is back inside. Magrogan stands in the middle of the stage with the punky Irish band Hit the Bottle Boys, microphone in hand, apologizing to the crowd for the inconvenience.
Read more at
http://www.phillymag.com/articles/entrepreneurs-irish-guy-is-smiling/#3h3vLqhxTjiqaCWI.99