Today we’d like to introduce you to John Downes.
Thanks for sharing your story with us John. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
As most restaurant entrepreneurs, I began my career in the industry while working my way through college at the University of Texas. After graduation, I moved to Manhattan Beach, Ca and began bartending and then landed a Management position with Houlihan’s Restaurant Group. I worked for Houlihan’s in Los Angeles, Boston, and Springfield, VA over a six-year period. The corporate structure gave me just enough insight of what should be done and those things that needed to be changed with the evolving industry.
I opened my first small cafe-pub in north county San Diego, CA where the true learning experience came into play. It was no cake-walk, but it was exactly what I needed to move forward. After selling the business, I moved back east to Cape Cod, MA where with my brother, Matt, we opened a seasonal restaurant on Main Street Hyannis. After five years we decided to take a different path and follow our dream – an Irish Pub.
We opened the first Flynn’s Irish Pub in Bourne, MA in 2011, the second Flynn’s Irish Pub in Mansfield, MA in 2103, and the third in Plymouth, MA within six months. We then opened our fourth establishment, Father’s Kitchen & Taphouse in Sandwich, MA in 2016.
We recently just received our brewery license and opened 6A Brewing Company in Sandwich, MA. Our 6A Brewing beers are now only found in our four restaurants.
If you love what you do then it’s not work at all and that’s where I find myself presently. Yes, at times it becomes a struggle but that’s why it’s important to surround yourself with good people.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has been rocky, to say the least. It’s never easy starting your own restaurant, whether small or large. Problems arise out of thin air sometimes and you just have to breathe and figure out your strategy to follow the course of action you started. Financial problems arose consistently during the years of operating the seasonal restaurant. Borrowing money and repaying that loan on a yearly basis was part of the growing process. I learned that I would never enter into a seasonal business again.
The struggle to attract and maintain a good staff continues to be an issue no matter how successful the restaurant. The employee pool has dwindled dramatically. The restaurants are never fully staffed to where you feel comfortable for more than 6 months at a time. And I don’t see it changing. The idea of entitlement is hurting the industry.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with FLYNN’S IRISH PUBS, FATHER’S KITCHEN & TAPHOUSE, 6A BREWING CO. – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I’m the operating partner /owner of all the businesses. I concentrate on the front of the house operations; follow up on training, all financials, payroll, advertising/marketing, and social media among other titles. My partner, Matt Downes, overseas the kitchens, leases, property purchases, and building repairs and maintenance to just name a few things. We work together to maintain continued growth.
Our businesses are known for being awarded the Best Burger 6 straight years, Best Irish Pub 4 straight years, and Best Craft Beer selection. We specialize in Craft beers and fun, inventive comfort foods. We have a minimum of 40 craft beer taps at each of the four pubs – 216 in total. And have over 2900 beer club members.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I look forward to our latest venture 6A Brewing Company and to where it may lead us and our pubs in the next 5 years. We plan on opening a tasting room within a new brewery building in 2018. Craft beer is the future.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gotoflynns.com , www.gotofathers.com , www.6abrewing.com
- Phone: 508-833-8628
- Email: john@6abrewing.com
- Instagram: flynnsirishpub
- Facebook: flynnsirishpub / flynnscedarville / flynnsmansfield / fathersk&t
- Twitter: flynnsirishpub
- Yelp: flynnsirishpub
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