Smoke-free bar opens

Dooley's Pub replaces vacant lot left after 2001's fire at The Camaraderie

By: DJ Slater

Posted: 10/10/05

A cool wind races across Water Street on a chilly Friday night as students and Eau Claire residents endure the elements.

On the corner of Fifth Avenue and Water Street, however, a warm light dimly shines on the sidewalk. Through the door, the golden glow illuminates dark wooden structures, as customers slightly slouch over the bar carrying on casual conversations.

The mood is calm and the air is crisp, not clouded with the stale smell of smoke. For nearly five years, this previously empty lot held the memories of The Camaraderie, which burned down Jan. 7, 2001. Now, it is home to Dooley's Pub, the new Irish-themed bar and restaurant at 442 Water St., which opened Oct. 2.

"It feels great," owner Mike Dooley said regarding the pub's opening. "It's fantastic to pull up and see the building completed and know that I can walk in. It's great seeing my name on (the building)."

The pub, which took about a year and a half to establish, features 3,300 square feet of dining space with a loft above the bar. It can seat about 95 people and features about 25 windows, the majority facing Fifth Avenue.

"I really like the atmosphere and what they have going on," senior Amy Tewf said. "It's not sports bar (like). It's really going with the Irish theme."

Because Dooley's is a non-smoking establishment, senior Molly Jackson said she has more of a reason to frequent it than most other bars and restaurants on Water Street.

Steve Majstorovic, associate professor of political science, said after finishing a meal on Saturday afternoon, that the pub seems to bring in a variety of people, not just college students like other bars in the area.

"There's a better mix of the ages," he said. "Some ways, it's got some of the same types of good elements the Joynt has, but much more up to date."

The menu, which features Irish beers like Guinness and Killians, is limited right now because the pub is a new establishment, Dooley said. The menu will broaden after its beginning phase wears off.

The one thing most patrons disliked while in the pub was its lack of decorations, a factor Dooley said will change after Homecoming weekend. For now, however, the walls remain bare, with a projection screen and a handful of roughly 20-inch flat screen TVs taking up minimal space.

"In the long run, it might kind of restore that atmosphere, but I don't ever think you're going to replace what (The Camaraderie) had," said Brian Schwechel owner of The Brat Kabin, 314 Water St. "I can see where some business will be frustrated, because people will be checking it out. Hopefully in the long run, it will benefit people."

Majstorovic, however, said Dooley's Pub actually provides a better atmosphere than The Camaraderie because it's brighter and more spacious.

Dooley's also offers something other establishments don't, he said.

"It's much better than Mogie's for the basic reason because it's run by people who are sensitive to the needs of the community instead of just to themselves," he said regarding the overall success of the establishment.

John Mogensen, the owner of Mogie's, 436 Water St., was not available for comment because he was out of town on vacation.

The plans for the pub began in August 2004 when Dooley purchased the lot and received approval from the Eau Claire City Council and the Water Street Bid Board to build his establishment on the site.

On May 2, the groundbreaking ceremony took place after a long delay from its original start date. Dooley's Pub should have been operational by mid-March, but complications, such as building in the winter, prevented it, Dooley said.

Now he has feels optimistic about the future of his pub.

"I see us getting better, becoming more comfortable," he said. "I see progress. Good things."