Inside Jack’s Sunnyside Ale House (Photo: QueensPost)
March 21, 2013 By Bill Parry
The long-awaited opening of Jack’s Sunnyside Ale House will take place on Friday night.
The opening represents nearly two-year’s work since the owners closed the pub down—when it was called The Firewater Inn– to renovate it.
“We had hoped to be open in time for the Super Bowl,” said Brian McGowan, who owns the 39-46 Skillman Avenue bar along with his two brothers, Jimmy and John. “We almost made St. Patrick’s Day… but at least we’re ready for March Madness.”
There will be nine flat screen TVs placed throughout the bar to cater to sports fans.
However, the pub’s revamp is not over. The bar won’t start its restaurant service until May, nor will its beer garden be open for about two months. The beer garden, when it does open, will feature a large outdoor flat screen so sports fans don’t miss any action.
The Firewater Inn
The Firewater closed for renovation after St. Patrick’s Day in 2011. An architect’s ignorance of the new zoning code delayed the process and securing proper permits took longer than anticipated.
Furthermore, the brothers, all firefighters (John is now retired from the FDNY), decided to take their time to renovate the pub to their liking. “We didn’t want to cut any corners,” Jimmy said.
The McGowan’s changed the name of the bar to honor their late father Jack who opened The Firewater Inn in 1986.
“There’s been a ton of positive feedback from our neighbors and we can’t wait to see all our old friends as well as all the new faces,” Brian said.
