Fairfield Cocktail Bar Marks 1 Year In Business Despite Pandemic

From J.B. Percival:

FAIRFIELD, CT — Starting a new business is never easy, especially in the restaurant industry, and most especially during a global pandemic.

But that did not stop Amy and Billy O’Shea from forging ahead to make their vision a reality, even with capacity, social distance, curfews, and other restrictions imposed following the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020. The Fairfield couple spent months preparing for the opening of J.B. Percival & Co. in January 2020, seeing a need for a place where people could get proper cocktails, a great glass of wine, and light bites before or after dinner or a show.

But just nine weeks after opening their doors, Connecticut went into lockdown mode, closing bars, salons, and other businesses to flatten the curve and reduce transmission of the virus.

In that time, Amy, a practicing attorney with a creative flair, and her husband, Billy, a general contractor, discovered new ways to engage with customers despite J.B. Percival’s doors being closed to the public. Last spring, farmer’s baskets filled with fresh produce and swanky cocktail kits helped the business continue its goal of being part of the local community while giving customers something both fun and practical to enjoy in the comfort of their homes.

As the positivity rate steadily decreased going into last summer, J.B. Percival was able to reopen its doors and operate more normally with social distancing measures and other precautions in place including CDC recommended MERV 13 air filters in their HVAC system. But winter came and with it, dramatic surges in COVID cases forcing restaurants to close early and keep indoor capacity at 50 percent.

“The nights became quieter, yet we’ve done whatever possible to provide a safe, comfortable place to retreat for a small bite and a nice cocktail or glass of wine,” Amy said. “And when it’s safe, we look forward to bustling evenings and sharing some of our new offerings.”

With all COVID protocols in place, the lounge now offers comedy nights every other Thursday in affiliation with the Fairfield Comedy Club. J.B. Percival’s first comedy night Jan. 28 was by all accounts a success, with two back-to-back shows (6 p.m. and 8 p.m.) and laughter filling the air and the entertainment continued through February and March.

This spring, J.B. Percival will also offer an educational tasting series with a focus on a different spirit or wine (country/region) to be paired with light bites and chocolate. They began the series with a Guinness and Roe & Co. whiskey tasting in March hosted by a Guinness brand ambassador.

“We know this first year brought a litany of challenges, but it also pushed us to create unique offerings that make us stand apart from other lounges and restaurants in the area,” Amy said. “We are feeling hopeful and humbled by everyone’s support. We plan on being part of this community for a long time and look forward to brighter days ahead.”

J.B. Percival is located at 63 Unquowa Road on Donnelly Walk, a short distance away from the Sacred Heart University Theater and the Fairfield Theater Company as well as the Fairfield train station. Hours are 4 p.m. until close Tuesday through Saturday.

For more information, click here or call 203-292-6301.