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LARGO - A bit o' Dublin has come to Largo.
Dublin native Eddie Houston and his wife, Chris, have opened O'Houston's Irish Pub along Largo's redevelopment corridor on West Bay Drive.
Houston, 40, immigrated to the U.S. 20 years ago to expand his work as a muralist and specialist in the decorative arts for home and business. But his dream was to own a neighborhood pub like those in his hometown.
He had managed pubs in Dublin, and his flair for cooking runs in the family; his brother is an executive chef.
An opportunity to make the dream reality came earlier this year when a 1,200-square-foot freestanding building at Fifth Street and West Bay Drive became available for lease.
"The timing was right, we were ready," Houston said.
"We signed the lease in April and in May began working on the building," Mrs. Houston said. Inside, the building was a mess. "The ceiling was torn out and the plumbing didn't work," she said. "We gutted it.
"We worked every single day for 31/2 months - in the middle of the summer with no air-conditioning. We did a lot of the work ourselves. It was rough, but it was worth it, we're happy now."
"We're definitely where we want to be," said Houston, who continues to work as an artist during the day.
The couple invested an estimated $70,000 in the project.
"We paid for everything ourselves," Mrs. Houston said.
Inside, the decor is burgundy and dark wood. "This is typical of a bar you would see in Dublin with a cozy, warm atmosphere - a place where you can bring family and friends," Houston said.
O'Houston's is open seven days a week for lunch (starting this week) and dinner. The menu includes corned beef, chicken salad, Dublin-style ham and oven roasted turkey breast sandwiches, each at $5.99; potato and corned beef soup in a bread bowl for $6.99; buffalo-style hot chicken tenders; and an oversized baked potato filled with corned beef and white sauce at $9.95. A Cornish game hen dinner and the house specialty, Shepherd's pie, are priced at $10.95.
The pub, which seats 45 inside and 12 on an outside patio, offers wine and beer - Guinness on draft, Harp, Killians and Fosters, Bud Lite and other bottled beers. For entertainment, there are darts, games, live music, television and the Sunday Irish Independent.
Since opening a month ago, business has been steady, Mrs. Houston said.
If the trend continues, they plan to expand to a full liquor license and build an additional 1,500 square feet in what is now a vacant lot, Houston said. Meanwhile, he said, "I'll keep my day job."
O'Houston's Irish Pub518 West Bay Drive, Largo
Lunch, dinner, beer and wine in a traditional Dublin pub setting
Owned and operated by Eddie and Chris Houston.
"It's not for everyone. You have to have a passion for it." - Eddie Houston on the pub/restaurant business.