Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Debi Gustin hopes Irish eyes will be smiling on her as she recently purchased the Irish Setter Pub, located on Main Street in Presque Isle.
“We [me and my husband, Sonny] were in Chicago for several years after my husband was relocated by McCain,” she said. “We were there for seven years, and we wanted to get back home, so we thought about what could we open … what could we start? We couldn’t come up with anything, so we moved home – no job, no house, no nothing.”
While living in Chicago, Gustin worked at Olive Garden.
“I became a trainer and helped them develop their training program,” she said. “They sent me to Italy to learn about wine, and I helped them open other Olive Garden restaurants.
“When we first moved back here, I worked at Slopes as a training manager, and then became the manager of the pub in July 2007,” said Gustin. “Shortly thereafter, I found out that they [Jerry Tanner and Terry Greenier] were selling the place. A lady that I know from my bank said, ‘You ought to think about buying it.’ I wasn’t sure, but one thing led to another and I talked to someone at Northern Maine Development Commission who worked with me in coming up with a business plan, and I applied for a loan, and here we are.”
Gustin said she has no plans to change the name of the pub.
“People are familiar with it,” she said, “so why change it? People in ‘The County’ are not big into changes, and the name works.”
That’s not to say Gustin doesn’t have some new ideas for the establishment.
“We are going to make a few changes to the menu in terms of its appearance,” she said. “The food is probably going to stay very close to what it has been. People like it. I have found that we have some daily specials that people want to see on the menu, so we’re going to make that change … making some of the daily specials part of the regular menu.
“We are going to be offering a light lunch where you can come in and get your choice of a cup of soup with either a salad or a sandwich,” said Gustin. “We’re going to have more varieties of soup, as well. Chili and chicken stew are going to be on the menu every day, and then we’re going to feature another soup in addition to the soup of the day.”
Gustin said she’ll have seafood chowder on Friday, is looking at trying a few new food items, and is also considering having a ladies’ night.
Patrons will continue to see their favorite pub items, Gustin said, noting that the Irish Reuben is a big seller.
The pub’s motif is going to stay the same, but Gustin said she’s considering some outside seating in the warmer months.
“I think that would be something different for the area to have outdoor seating,” she said. “I’m looking at some tall tables. We have such a short season of good weather, it’s nice to be able to be outside.”
Gustin said it’s important for potential customers to know that the Irish Setter Pub is more than a bar.
“A lot of people have never been in because they think it’s just a bar. If you look it up, an Irish pub is a place where the common people can come together, get something to eat, something to drink, and catch up with community knowledge of what’s going on,” she said. “In Ireland, common people were not allowed into places where people with money had, so they started their own neighborhood places – pubs – where they could meet up with friends, talk, and have some food and drink.
“We’re not just a bar,” said Gustin. “We have a full menu. We do have dinner items. We offer steaks and chicken dinners, prime rib, and baked potatoes. We’re not limited to just what you would think of as appetizers. We have sandwiches and salads, wraps, and much more.”
This Saturday, March 15, the Irish Setter Pub will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.
“We’re going to have bagpipers from New Brunswick come in at 7 p.m. and play for an hour,” said Gustin. “We’ll also have green beer and some giveaways. It will be fun. We’re also going to celebrate Monday, March 17, which is actually St. Patrick’s Day.”
With a staff of 20, Gustin is assisted by Frankie Robinson, who is the pub’s manager/bar tender, and Gene Hathaway, who serves as the kitchen manager.
“A smaller staff feels more like a family,” said Gustin. “Another thing that was nice about buying the pub is that I was working here at the time and knew everybody.”
Gustin said she’s happy to be back home, and is looking forward to greeting new customers.
“We don’t get a lot of college kids in here,” she said. “We tend to see more 30 to 40-year-olds. It’s a place where families can come and have a nice meal. We have highchairs and a kid’s menu. People should come by some time. They’ll see that we’re more than just a pub.”
Located at 710 Main St., the Irish Setter Pub is open from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 764-5400.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
THE IRISH SETTER PUB is under new ownership. Debi Gustin purchased the pub/restaurant earlier this month and is looking forward to greeting new customers. Here, Gustin, behind the bar at left, and Frankie Robinson, the pub’s manager/bar tender, talk with Evelyn and Jerry Corella of Fort Fairfield while they wait for their meal.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
DEBI GUSTIN and Gene Hathaway, kitchen manager, finish preparing a patron’s salad at the Irish Setter Pub. Gustin recently purchased the business, located on Main Street in Presque Isle. Gustin is planning a few menu changes and is considering some outside seating in the warmer months, as well.
