With all the wonderful, charming places to eat in downtown Franklin how does a place stand out? If you are McCreary’s Pub you offer your visitors an experience that is just a little bit different from the others in the area. Be assured you will still find the same kind of attention and friendly faces that you are used to, but you also experience the relaxed atmosphere that makes it a pub. Well, that and the ales and Irish fare of course. Intrigued? Great- now settle in lads and lassies to read a bit more about this Local Love.
McCreary’s Pub – Their Story
Remember my post a couple weeks ago on the Mercantile? Well, you may recall that Darryl and Annie McCreary opened the pub in 2002, a few years after helping launch the Mercantile. They were lucky enough to hire a staff member that they had worked with before, Natasha Hendrix. Natasha had actually worked with them at their coffee shop Jammin Java, where she got her first job at 15. She stayed with McCreary’s Pub for the next several years, completing college and helping run the pub at the same time. When the McCrearys wanted to sell the pub in 2009, Natasha felt it was an easy decision for her and made a lot more sense than struggling to make ends meet in a failing economy. Plus, she had already fallen in love with the essence of the pub (customers and staff) and enjoyed being a part of downtown Franklin. Since taking over, Natasha remains committed to providing regulars and new visitors the same authentic experience the pub is known for in town.
What You Will Love
- The pub is small, almost tiny really, and offers communal seating inside. But, that’s what creates a feeling of intimacy among customers. Pubs are supposed to feel cozy, warm, and like you could stay all day. McCreary’s embodies this to a T. You never know who you will wind up talking to there, and there is a good chance you will talk with almost everyone there before you leave. And that’s the hallmark of a good pub.
- Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the pub serves a traditional Irish menu. Fish and Chips and Bread Pudding get universal thumbs up from customers, but they also offer Bangers and Mash and Shepherd’s pie. Side note – the McCreary’s menu is downright exciting for vegetarians as they have delicious options for each meal!
- It wouldn’t be a pub without ale! McCreary’s Pub always carries multiple Irish ales on tap and stocks a variety of brews in bottles and cans. Happy Hour is from 3-6 Monday thru Saturday where drafts are 2 for 1 and wine is $2 off house wine.
- Friday and Saturday nights the pub hosts Celtic music and/or folk music. This makes it a perfect spot to bring visitors for dinner and and entertainment. This month they will be celebrating their 11th birthday too, so get there early enough to grab a table!
Community
The roots of McCreary’s Pub run deep, as Natasha was a long time resident of Franklin before acquiring it. She is part of the DFA (Downtown Franklin Association) which keeps her plugged into the downtown merchant affairs and keeping Franklin thriving. The pub itself participates in the Dog Days of Summer charity events and was part of the initial Open Your Heart Charity event this past February. They also enjoy all of the downtown Franklin events throughout the year.
Social Media
McCreary’s Pub has found its rhythm with social media this past year. There is one person dedicated to managing those efforts and the pub has seen tremendous growth in the past year on Facebook and Twitter. On Facebook the posts are usually updates and often include wonderful pictures of the delicious meals served there.
Followers (over 1,400 Likes) are watching too, as nearly every post has multiple likes and/or comments with it. Twitter feeds are more conversational, engaging directly with other businesses and retweeting about upcoming events and happenings. With nearly 1,300 followers that’s a lot of people listening. For the future, Natasha hopes to continue to engage current customers, as well as grow the reputation of the pub as a place for visitors to land when touring Franklin. With the success of their current social media program, I think she is well on her way!
Just writing this post has me craving a pint, a smattering of fish and chips and a chance to get away with the fairies. Want to join? Be sure to Tweet it, Post it and share your experience with me at Email Jenn
[success]
Weekly Email Newsletter
Be sure to sign up for our email newsletter, so you can keep up with our weekly Local Love spotlights to learn about the great businesses in our area and how they’re using social media to connect with their audience.[/success]
