Shamrock returning to West Seventh

West Seventh Street soon will see a familiar face lining the booming corridor as the owner and operator of the former Shamrock Pub has plans to open Shamrock Tavern at the start of 2010.

Matt McEntire, who owns three buildings in the West Seventh Street area – at 2708 and 2710 West Seventh St. and at 700 Carroll St. – said Poag Mahone’s Irish Pub, which currently operates from the 2710 West Seventh St. building soon will move to the newly renovated Carroll Street building along with a law firm currently in the other West Seventh space to make way for Shamrock Tavern.

“There’s just a lot going on over here; it’s very exciting,” McEntire said.

Poag Mahone’s will move into 3,500 square feet of renovated space at the Carroll Street location. McEntire Law Firm, run by Matt McEntire’s wife, Julie McEntire, will move from 1,600 square feet on West Seventh to take the other 3,500 square feet at the Carroll Street building. Matt McEntire said once the moves are complete, he will bring in sub-contractors to renovate the side-by-side buildings along West Seventh Street and convert them into one larger space to accommodate Shamrock Tavern.

McEntire leased the space at 2710 West Seventh St. – the former home of Shamrock Pub – to Poag Mahone’s, which is owned by Will Wells, Glen Keely and Chris Ledbetter, in 2008. Two were former bartenders for the Shamrock.

“Poag Mahone’s has done exceptionally well,” McEntire said. “Things are growing so fast over here, but it’s good.”

McEntire, who operates under Shamrock Corner Holdings and Blarney Stone Enterprises, also owns the property at 2709 West Sixth St., which he plans to use for parking for the establishment.

Following renovations, McEntire said Shamrock Tavern should open in January 2010.

ahowe@bizpress.net