January 28, 2021
“Of all the money that I had,
I spent it in good company.”
Fado Irish Pub in Seattle opened on November 30, 2000. March 15, 2020 was our last day of business before the COVID-19 shutdown. It’s with a heavy heart we let you know that it was also our final day in business.
Like so many other restaurants, bars and pubs in Seattle, we did our best to withstand the impact of COVID-19. As time went on, we were getting ready to reopen in the early part of 2021. Now, it is obvious that the ability to open, and stay open, won’t be until late this year. Unfortunately, we are unable to hold out that long.
We’re so proud and grateful for our time in Seattle. There aren’t many concepts in our industry that last 20 years in the same location. It was possible because we had a team of managers, servers, bartenders, staff, kitchen crew and support people who loved this business and made it what it was. Some worked for us for 10, 15 years or more; there are too many of you to mention, but we send you all heartfelt thank you. A special thank you Gerry Leonard, our General Manager for the past 14 years. We’ll never know all you did for your staff, our customers and the neighborhood. Thank you for being the rock that everyone could lean on.
We loved the fact that in an industry where staff turnover can be high, we had a staff who stayed committed and loyal for years. Staff who had left years ago keep in touch to this day. We love the fact that relationships, marriages and lifelong friendships were made. It was all just part of being in the Fado family.
The second reason is our legion of loyal customers- your loyalty and support, especially over the past 10 months has been unbelievable. There aren’t enough words to express our gratitude.
It’s a combination of these two groups that made that Fado in Seattle made memories for so long. Gerry said it best: You know when a pub is open for 20 years the memories just pile up.
There are lots of memories!
The Mariners monumental run with Ichiro in 2001, the 6.8 magnitude earthquake of 2001, the building of the new Seahawk stadium in 2002 to their Super Bowl win in 2013.
Surviving Y2K together, experiencing 9/11, the launch of the Seattle Sounders in 2007 to their championship in 2016, the Irish Grand Slam of 2009 (and 2018) and of course, the day Celtic beat Barcelona (okay, Gerry is a huge Celtic fan).
Watching a full pub and waiting for the perfect moment to play the right song. Then, standing back as a couple of hundred people join in on the chorus.
Epic Sounders, World Cup, and Champions League matches we had the best sports fans in Seattle.
We were always happy to support the annual Scott Fire Fighter Stair Climb and to host head shaving events to raise money for the St Baldrick’s children’s cancer charity. Your support was amazing.
To all the business schemes hatched, family gatherings had, first dates and romances made we say cheers.
To the day before St. Patrick’s Day in 2020 when we just weren’t sure what was going to happen next.
Too many memories to share and too many friends to thank, so we will finish with the closing lines of the same song with which we started. A song written by a Scotsman but embraced by Ireland seems particularly appropriate,
So, fill to me the parting glass
And drink a health whate’er befalls
Then gently rise and softly call
Good night and joy be with you all.
Thank you all. It was a pleasure.
Gerry Leonard
Kieran McGill
If you have any questions or need to get in touch send us an email.