Stan Penn said he let his Irish heritage lead him to make his dream of owning a pub a reality when in 2014 he purchased what is now The Celt in downtown McKinney.
“I have Irish heritage on both sides [of my family] and have been visiting Ireland at least twice a year for the last several years,” Penn said. “To open an Irish pub was a lifelong dream, and it became a reality after a 25-year career in banking. This pub was for sale, and it was love at first sight.”
He said he believes his previous career was a natural stepping stone to operating a food and beverage service-based business.
“Believe it or not, the career in banking prepared me for managing a pub,” Penn said. “Many of the challenges are the same. We are all retailers now—all trying to provide the best product and service we can while still trying to remain profitable.”
He said he wants The Celt to be an experience for everyone involved.
“The best part about operating a restaurant is knowing that you are providing more than just a meal, but an experience,” Penn said. “‘Craic’ is an Irish word that describes what goes on in a pub—fun, gossip, entertainment, news and conversation.”
He said he also enjoys the music in a pub.
“We have a fun, warm and lively atmosphere, but of course [patrons] should come here for the music,” Penn said. “We do live music nine times a week. There’s nothing like the music that occurs in an Irish pub.”
In addition to the atmosphere and music, the food at the Irish pub is another reason to visit, Penn said.
Penn and the staff review the menu once a year and make minimal changes.
He said he tries to add at least two or three new items yearly and remove the less popular dishes. Penn said he spent a year searching for the perfect site in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for his new business.
“Many of the recipes and drinks are traditional Irish fare handed down through the generations,” he said. “We have a wonderful kitchen and bar staff that are always coming up with new ways to improve existing menu items.”
The Celt
100 N. Tennessee St., McKinney 972-562-2929 www.theceltmckinney.com Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-midnight, Sat. 8 a.m.-1 a.m., Sun. 8 a.m.-midnight
