Restaurant: Bracken’s Pub
Location: 106 Miami St., Urbana
Phone number: 937-484-6098
Website/Facebook page: www.brackensurbana.com
Background/overview
Patrick Crowley began working when he was 7 years old, earning 25 cents an hour. His father Thomas owned Hatton & Enright Pharmacy for 50 years. The pharmacy sat directly behind where Bracken’s Pub stands today.
In 1984 Patrick attended the University of Cincinnati to study criminal justice. He’d come home on the weekends and tend bar in the same place his pub now occupies. In 1994 a friend and owner of the building approached Patrick to ask if he was interested in purchasing it. He accepted the offer and started the transformation process to make the business his own.
Both of his parents were Irish immigrants, and his mother’s maiden name is Bracken, so it seemed fitting to the new owner to assemble his new business in honor of his Irish heritage. Bracken’s Pub opened in 1996 and is celebrating its 20th year in 2016.
The establishment is recognized for being a supporter of Toys for Tots and other charitable events.
The owner says his pub is “where people gather for good times and the coldest beer in town.”
The menu
Beverages: Coca-Cola products, $1.25 per glass.
Appetizers: chips and salsa, $1; steak fries or seasoned fries, $1.50/$3; mac & cheese bites, $4; mozzarella sticks, $4; pepper jack cheese balls, $4.
Vegetables: onion rings, $2.50; fried zucchini, $3; broccoli & cheese bites, $4; fried mushrooms, $4; jalapeno poppers (five), $4; spicy fried pickles (five), $4.
Meals: Butterfly shrimp, $5; chicken wings (six), $5; chicken tenders (three), $6; fish & chips, $6; pizza (13-inch), $11.
Hours
2 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Mondays-Fridays; 1 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays
Will be open on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) from 6 a.m.-2:30 a.m.
More information
Bracken’s Pub is near Coppertop in Monument Square. There’s free parking in the city lot on the west side of the building.
Happy hour is 2-8 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. Power Hour is 8-9 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, with draft beer at $1.25 or bottle beer, $2. Wednesday has draft glasses for $1.50 until 8 p.m. and free pool all day. Thursday is College Night, with a glass of beer for $1.75 or a pitcher of beer $6.25 from 9 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
A 500 hundred-square-foot beer garden is outside in back of the building and will re-open soon. The space can be reserved, so ask for details.
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