Irish 'Parlour' to open at former Dubh Linn Square Pub site

A Chesterfield resident plans to open his Irish pub, "The Parlour," before St. Patrick's Day.

BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP -- Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, a new Irish pub is moving  into the former Dubh Linn Square Pub building on Route 130.

Chesterfield resident John Kelly said he is hoping to secure the liquor license and open his "The Parlour" pub up on March 15, though he encouraged residents to check his social media pages in case that date changes.

The Dubh Linn Square closed in June after owners and brothers Sean and Michael McGeough faced financial difficulties.

One of the Irish caricatures to hang on The Parlour's walls of professional golfer Padraig Harrington.Courtesy of John Kelly 

Kelly, having immigrated in 1988 to America from Ireland, said he plans to keep the authentic Irish feel and food in Bordentown but "with a twist."

"The whole emphasis is on good food," Kelly said. "Anyone can serve you vodka and a soda."

Kelly said "the twist" is that he is bringing in a chef from Rat's Restaurant at Hamilton's Grounds for Sculpture. The chef - who worked in the Hamilton restaurant for six years - is trained in Portuguese cuisine.

And although Kelly said the menu will feature all Irish favorites like fish and chips, bangers and mash and Shepherd's pie, he will also incorporate his wife's heritage.

Kelly said his wife immigrated to America from Trinidad and he will honor her by adding such items as curry chicken to the menu.

"It's the signature Parlour," Kelly said.

He said the pub's walls will be lined with framed caricatures of famous Irish singers and sportsmen, and Irish poems and paintings will adorn them as well.

"These photos will be the first things you see when you walk in the door," Kelly said.

Also, Kelly said he'll broadcast sporting events from around the world on the pub's televisions.

"We especially love soccer and I coach all the local kids in the area," Kelly said.

He said he owns another "The Parlour" pub in Manhattan, which he has run on his own since 1997.

Kelly said he started out as a waiter in a New York City restaurant when he first immigrated to America, which got him into the business.

"I never knew what I wanted to do," Kelly said. "I just tried to save some money."

After running the Manhattan pub with success, Kelly said he sought the opportunity to secure the Dubh Linn Square's old location when it went up for sale.

"I've lived in Chesterfield for nine years so I saw the place go up and down," Kelly said. "It seemed busy in the past. I wanted to take what I did in Manhattan and inject it into Bordentown. I hope that will be enough to get it through."

Kelly also said it is nice that the Bordentown location is only a four-minute drive from his home and that he has "great management" in both pubs who will take care of his establishments when he is not there.

"I feel blessed," Kelly said. "I have a lot of good support."

The Parlour pub will be open every day 11 a.m. to midnight. On weekends, Kelly said an Irish breakfast will be available in addition to the standard menu.

For more information, visit The Parlour's website.

Lindsay Rittenhouse may be reached at lrittenhouse@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.