Grosse Pointe Park's Beloved 'O'Flaherty's' Persists In Pandemic

GROSSE POINTE, MI — Russell Gretkierewicz says being a bar owner is a hard job when times are normal.

But Gretkierewicz, the owner of O'Flaherty's in Grosse Pointe Park, said that in 2020, with the coronavirus pandemic proving problematic for businesses across the U.S., things have only gotten harder.

"During normal times I am responsible for serving my community in a safe manner and for running a profitable business that allows me and my staff to make a living," Gretkierewicz told Patch in an interview this week. "During COVID-19 that means being on your toes all the time, listening to the experts, and adjusting."

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Adjusting is exactly what Gretkierewicz, along with business owners across Michigan, have had to do in 2020. As cases of the coronavirus surge in Michigan, state officials have routinely implemented health restrictions that have proven difficult for businesses.

On Monday, the state said it was extending by 12 days a ban on indoor dining and social gatherings to prevent the COVID-19 spread. The extension comes in tow of a three-week pause on such gatherings that led to lawsuits by Michigan restaurant groups and outrage on social media.

O'Flaherty's is one of many businesses that have closed and reopened only to close again due to coronavirus health restrictions. The pub has been a staple in the Grosse Pointe Park community for decades. It opened under its current namesake in 1993 after previously being "Brook's Bar."

The building, located at 15119 Charlevoix St., was originally a Belgium men's club where guys would gather and play cards, smoke and race homing pigeons, according to Gretkierewicz. The pigeon coop still sits atop the building.

But in 2020, a year tarnished by the issues caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, decades-old businesses with a rich history and popularity among local residents aren't spared. O'Flaherty's has closed more than once due to restrictions put in place to try and prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

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Adjusting On The Fly

Gretkierewicz said that during the first statewide shutdown amid the pandemic, he realized that outdoor service was going to be crucial. But the pub is sandwiched between two other businesses on a strip, with a narrow sidewalk and public alley in the back, leaving little space for outdoor tables and seating.

Gretkierewicz said he reached out to Grosse Pointe Park City Manager Nick Sizeland and asked if the city would consider allowing him to erect a parklet over the parking spaces in front of O'Flaherty's. The city, which hadn't allowed something like that in the past, deferred to city council, which required an application to be submitted. So that is what Gretkierewicz did, only to learn that after having it approved, it also needed state approval.

"It was all very nerve-wracking and it felt like it took forever but in reality, everything moved way quicker than it would have in normal times," Gretkierewicz said.

Along with a deck builder, Gretkierewicz said he came up with a plan for a 40-foot parklet, allowing for outdoor seating with a 6-foot separation between patrons.

Customers of O'Flaherty's noticed the effort Gretkierewicz put into keeping them safe. In a recent callout aiming at recognizing the efforts of businesses during the pandemic, several people said they appreciated the work.

"The upgrades that the owner has done both inside and out are phenomenal!" Merrilee Spangler, an O'Flaherty's customer, told Patch. "It's also a casual neighborhood pub where you can relax and be welcomed as a regular or a newbie. It truly reminds you of a corner pub in the UK."

"Russ, the owner always goes above and beyond what anyone could imagine," customer Toni Sisco said. "Not only did he add amazing thoughtful touches to his outdoor area during COVID (fire pits, small blankets, food trucks umbrellas and plants. He also helped bring the community together with events on Charlevoix with different themes. He not only cares for the people who visit his establishment he also helps build a strong and welcoming community."

"Incredible dedication to safety and customers during COVID-19 pandemic," Matthew Storey told Patch. "Adapted to all necessary mandates and came up with creative ways to continue to serve guests in a way that made sense. Created a beautiful outdoor space with umbrellas and then heaters to allow people to enjoy the business for as long as they could. Really amazing effort."

Another Blow For Business

While Gretkierewicz was playing the waiting game on the deck being approved, the state eased COVID-19 restrictions to the point where businesses could reopen indoor services at 50 percent capacity. Gretkierewicz said one bartender wasn't comfortable coming back during the pandemic and another wasn't able to work for other reasons, leaving him short-handed.

"I only have a staff of three so that left me scrambling," he said.

Gretkierewicz said the bar opened using disposable glassware and left windows open for circulation. Everything was sanitized before use, masks were worn and hands were washed more frequently.

"I was surprised that the shutdown and stay-at-home order had taken such a toll on people emotionally and I was happy to be there for them when we could reopen," Gretkierewicz said.

But in time, new restrictions prohibited indoor service. O'Flaherty's, which doesn't serve food, was closed down for another week. When the parklet was finished, however, the pub was back in business.

"Having the parklet this summer was fun," Gretkierewicz said. "O'Flaherty's has always been a neighborhood bar but being outside all the time made it feel even more connected. Even if they weren't stopping by the bar, you would see people walking their dogs, or driving home from work or going out for a bike ride.

"We also noticed we started getting some new customers. Some of them came in because they liked to look off the patio and for some, it was a conscious decision to support their local pub."

In the summer, Grosse Pointe Park created a social district allowing some licensed businesses to serve drinks within a licensed footprint, with customers taking those drinks with them to consume elsewhere in a designated area. Gretkierewicz said this allowed for people to support the business by ordering drinks and taking them to tables outside of O'Flaherty's patio.

Of course, Michigan summers often don't stay warm forever. As the weather turned colder, Gretkierewicz was forced to adapt once more.

"We replaced our bistro tables on the parklet with propane fire tables," he said. "We had tall propane heaters set up on the sidewalk. I bought a bunch of fleece blankets that I would launder every night. We started serving hot toddies and warm apple cider drinks."

But the costs were adding up quickly. Gretkierewicz said propane expenses were amounting to about $3,000 a month and windy and rainy fall weather was beginning to dampen business.

Luckily, business restrictions were once again eased and indoor service was allowed. Gretkierewicz said this led to increased business, despite grumblings on social media about bars having to request contact information from guests in order to support state-mandated contact tracing.

"Even though there was a lot of push back by people on social media, those that came to O'Flaherty's were great about it," he said. "People wanted to be out and they wanted to support us."

But soon enough, state orders closed indoor service at restaurants and bars. For O'Flaherty's, that meant it was temporarily closed with colder weather settling in.

"Having the bar closed is tough both emotionally and financially," Gretkierewicz said. "I am a very active and social person and the bar is a great outlet for me. It is hard to fill my days especially with anything meaningful and I miss the personal connections I used to make daily."

Gretkierewicz said he also worries about his staff.

"Business, before we shut down, was slow and as generous as the people coming in were, my bartenders were making less in tips than normal and now they are on unemployment which we all know isn't a lot of money," he said.

"I worry about my customers, members of the community, being separated and lonely again, especially over the holidays which are tough for so many as it is."