Pub gives new life to century-old building and salvaged furnishings

Come Friday, the sound of music, dance and good times will fill what used to be a partially empty, old building on the Fox River in the heart of Aurora's downtown.

Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant will celebrate its opening at 28 W. New York St. on Friday and Saturday evenings with guest bands, Irish dancers and bagpipers, toasts and ribbon cuttings.

Just as the pub is bringing new life to what once was an 1890s coat factory, it's giving a new lease on life to most of its furnishings. The 12,000-square-foot pub is filled from salvaged wood, doors and light fixtures from homes about to be torn down; stained glass windows, pulpits and alters from old churches; and thick wooden beams from barns.

"I like things that are old and have history," owner Phil Cullen said. "This kind of stuff you could never buy."

Cullen is bringing to the Aurora pub the same approach that made Ballydoyle a success since it opened in Downers Grove five years ago.

Chuck Nelson, the mayor's assistant chief of staff, said Aurora officials had visited the Downers Grove pub on several occasions before Cullen ever approached them about opening a second location in Aurora. They were favorably impressed with the atmosphere, he said.

"What makes Ballydoyle so unique is that eclectic style," Nelson said.

So when Cullen came to Aurora, he found receptive city officials willing to offer generous financial incentives in the form of TIF funds and $200,000 annual payments during the first five years.

Cullen said he saw an opportunity to help Aurora renew its downtown.

"I think Aurora is kind of the up-and-coming place. It's got a nice river location," he said.

The Aurora pub will have an outdoor deck looking over the river and, similar to the Downers Grove restaurant, eight party rooms of different sizes. Furnishings salvaged from churches have been used to create private booths that are a step up from the floor.

"You can get up inside and sit in the pulpit," Cullen said.

A man of 100 percent Irish descent who has visited the Emerald Isle numerous times, Cullen said the use of materials from old churches fits the atmosphere.

"Churches are a big part of Ireland and castles, old big planks and Irish music," he said.

Cullen's use of salvaged materials earned him a spot last fall on the "Total Wrecklamation" show on the Discovery Channel network, Planet Green. Hosted by demolition auctioneer Jodi Murphy, the show follows auction patrons as they discover and reuse salvaged items from soon-to-be demolished, Chicago area homes.

Cullen said he learned to recycle and reuse materials from his parents, William and Mary Cullen, who owned a motel and co-op elevator business in Denison, Iowa.

"My mom was into antiques," he said. "We'd buy antiques and refinish them."

When his parents decided to build a small addition to their home, they let him help with the work.

"The paneling would be crooked or the trim would be crooked but you just learned by doing it," he said.

Cullen, who strapped on a toolbelt to help with the pub renovations, said he finds the materials he uses online as well as at auction.

Before opening Ballydoyle in Downers Grove five years ago, Cullen sold hospital food service supplies. Starting his own business was a dream come true, he said. His wife, Marta, had opened Dream Interiors, an interior design business, in Downers Grove several years before Cullen took the plunge.

Ballydoyle has become a family affair, he said. Marta helps with choosing the color schemes. His son, William, works on the financial end of the business.

The family atmosphere carries over to the customers, too, who can range from toddlers to senior citizens, Cullen said. At the Downers Grove restaurant, musical entertainment is offered five days a week and Irish music is taught.

Cullen said he plans similar offerings in Aurora. He has arranged with the McNulty Irish dancers to offer lessons to children and adults, who will have an opportunity to perform on the pub's stage.

Ballydoyle brings in bands with both local and national standing, who play everything from Irish music to country to rock-and-roll. At the Aurora's pub opening, Elevation will play a U2 tribute show on Friday and Red Wanting Blue, a band from Ohio, will play Saturday.

"I love music," Cullen said. "When you sit in the pub and see people having a great time listening to a band ... the hair on the back of your neck stands up."

Based on his experience in Downers Grove, Cullen said he is not worried about opening a new business at a time when the economy is in a downturn.

"Your life doesn't end because the economy is difficult. You just spend things differently," he said. "We provide a good value."

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<p class="factboxheadblack">If you go</p> <p class="News"><b>What:</b> Opening celebrating for Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant</p> <p class="News"><b>Where:</b> 28 W. New York St., Aurora</p> <p class="News"><b>When:</b> Opening celebration starts 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; band Elevation plays 9:30 p.m. Friday, Red Wanting Blue at 9 p.m. Saturday</p> <p class="News"><b>Info: </b>(630) 844-0400</p>