Plans unfold for Irish pub

New bar, restaurant to open on Water Street

By: DJ Slater

Posted: 9/9/04

A trip down Water Street is a familiar routine for many students enjoying the night life of Eau Claire. When they move past Roy's Barber Shop, 440 Water St., however, an evident void exists in a lot once-occupied by The Camaraderie, which burned down Jan. 7, 2001.

"It's was a really laid-back atmosphere," senior Adam Van Beck said, reminiscing about the Cam'. "It's just kind of sad to see a good fun place go to waste."

By mid-March, a new establishment will take its place. Eau Claire resident Mike Dooley and his wife, Jennifer, plan to put a pub in place of the old Cam', he said.

The pub, which will be called Dooley's Pub, will take an Irish theme and try to recreate the same kind of aura the Cam' had, Dooley said.

"We just want to try and have an atmosphere that people appreciate," Dooley said. "Students are going to be an important part of our business, but we want to offer more."

Dooley's Pub, 442 Water St., will feature a design that includes two stories, a loft facing Water Street and eventually upstairs apartments, he said.

Jennifer Dooley also said the interior will stand out among other establishments on Water Street, featuring dark woods and a warm, cozy feel.

Another benefit, Mike Dooley said, will come with the food and drink options. The pub will have a complete menu and focus more on food sales than drink sales, he said. This strategy, he said, will benefit the pub.

"Just take a look at the franchise restaurants like Fridays," Dooley said. "They're always packed."

Lisa Aspenson, co-owner of Mona Lisa's, 428 Water St., said the pub will be a nice addition to Water Street, and hopes it doesn't follow the same suit as other places already on the street.

"We don't need another burger place," Aspenson said. "I would rather see something that enhances the area instead of a duplicate. You could do a lot of things with an Irish Pub menu."

The plans for the pub started in August when Dooley purchased the lot. After getting approval from the City Council and the Water St. Bid Board, the Dooley's are now in the process of determining costs and planning the interior design, he said.

For now, Dooley said they have 3,300 square feet for the main area, and 800 for a parking lot in back.

With the support of the Water Street Bid Board and City Council, the University is another place Dooley would like to get support from, he said.

Kimberly Barrett, associate vice chancellor of student development and diversity, said the University would like to help the pub be responsible with students.

"Supporting any new legitimate business enterprise is something that, as a member of the community, something that we'd want to do," Barrett said. "I think that a place that has food ... as a prominent part of what they do is less likely to have problems (with alcohol misuse)."

Since his days as a student at UW-Eau Claire, Dooley said he wanted to own an establishment on Water Street. After former Cam' owner Mark Mouledoux decided not to rebuild, he found an opportunity that he's been rolling with since, he said.

"We're going to have something that no one else has," Dooley said. "(Dooley's Pub) will give people a place to unwind and not worry about it being crammed."