Jack Quinns’ Irish Pub Opens in Lima to Friendly Neighbors

LIMA – Over the last two weeks, a quiet, bare-beamed pub peeked its doors open for friends and neighbors on West Main Road. Now, all are invited to gather and chat over a drink and a snack.

Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub at 6659 West Main Road, formerly the long-closed Jack and Jill’s, is a haven for the weary traveler, family-oriented eatery and meeting place for friends old and new.

“My dad Jack was a real character, the best man I ever knew and a legendary storyteller,” said owner Dan Petzing. “He was incredibly successful, and I cooked in his restaurants as a kid. He loved to talk. He’d say, ‘Did I ever tell you about the time I made this very same drink, but I lit it on fire and the flame ran up my arm, but it went out before it could really burn me?’ Nobody cared if it was true or not. Everyone just enjoyed the story. He’d say the point of an Irish pub is to communicate with your fellow man, and that’s what we have here. Casual elegance, comfortable and clean.”

Petzing’s plan is to present every customer with something new every time they walk in the door. The restaurant is open every day, Sunday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the bar is open Sunday through Wednesday 11:30 a.m. to 12 a.m., then Thursday through Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.

“We’ll do plenty of food specials and have a bunch of traditional Irish entertainers lined up,” said Petzing. “We want something to be a little different every time you come in the door, and then the next time you come in that’s gone and there’s something else. That’s how it is with us, constant little ideas. We’ve heard from lots of traditional Irish entertainers, from storytellers to harpists to Peg Dolan and the Fiddler from Livonia.”

Some of Petzing’s ideas are simple joys, like St. Patty’s Day on the 17th of every month, with a pint of Guinness and a Reuben for $12. Some are quite elaborate.

“We’re going to start a really traditional formal high tea, the kind of thing your mother and your grandmother would get dressed up to go to,” said Petzing. “There will be scones and traditional Irish fare. We might have a storyteller, maybe a harpist in the parlor. We’ll serve traditional flaming Irish coffee in a tall stem glass, rimmed with an orange and sugar. You put just a touch of rum inside and burn it off, not enough to caramelize the sugar, just to heat it up. Then your Irish whiskey and coffee gives you the aroma of orange, and the whiskey, cream and sugar all come together. It warms your hand on a blustery night, the sort of thing that my dad said warms the cockles of your heart.”

Petzing and his family run their fair share of establishments, particularly Irish pubs. He opened Jack Daniel’s in Irondequoit Bay, and then moved on to open Shamrock Jack’s in Rochester. Both were named for his father, and Shamrock Jack’s is now run by his son Mark.

“I’d like to say that I’ve taught Mark everything he knows, but he’s far surpassed me now,” said Petzing. “I’ve been in this business for 50 years, and finally retired. We moved to the Thousand Islands but we loved this area, the hills and the history. With Mark running Shamrock Jack’s we decided to open this up and have had a great reception. The area has deep Irish roots. People have come in and said ‘My mom’s a Duffy!'”

Livingston County towns and Lima in particular have vibrant histories of Irish immigration. County Historian Amie Alden said that the 1855 census shows Lima with the highest Irish population of surrounding towns. Out of Lima’s total 1855 population of 2,675, there were 451 that listed Ireland as their place of birth. Of those, 213 that listed ‘laborer’ or ‘servant’ as their occupation.

By comparison, in 1855 Livonia had 201 of 2,600 who identified Ireland as their place of birth and Avon had 429 out of about 2,700.

“There was a significant rise in the County population throughout 1840’s and early 1850’s,” said Alden. “This was a time period when there was significant movement through the area as transportation systems improved and lands west of New York opened up for settlement. The Irish and others were drawn to the Genesee Valley and every town in Livingston County in search of opportunities mostly in farming and manufacturing upon the completion of the Erie Canal, the construction of the Genesee Valley Canal, and expansion of the railroads and roadways.”

Petzing welcomes everyone to come by for a taste of the pub, not only its food and drink but its character.

“The magic of an Irish pub comes from within,” said Petzing. “It’s the type of place you go and everyone wants to know your name. They say ‘Hey, nice to meet you. Meet John and Sarah and Ted.’ And they remember your name when you come back. There’s an old quote that goes, ‘A tavern is a cradle of American liberty.’ Here, everyone from any walk of life can feel welcome.”