Garman’s Irish Pub: crafty business plan brings success to unique eatery

There was no luck involved, but rather a crafty business plan and belief in community that led to the creation of Garman’s Irish Pub, the unique eatery and popular gathering place this week celebrating its first anniversary. According to owner Clint Garman, there will be a weeklong celebration of the Pub, created in two downtrodden East Main Street buildings merged into one tribute to the past - and the Irish - during an extensive renovation.

The motivation for the business, said Garman, included the desire to bring something different to Santa Paula, “a different flair.” Although his professional background was primarily in marketing/advertising, Garman had considered opening a restaurant for several years.

Growing up in Ventura, Garman was familiar with Santa Paula: “We always used to go to Familia Diaz, my grandparents are buried here, and I played soccer here often.”

But “Our basis was how can we affect a community in a positive way, bring something the community is lacking. Santa Paula seemed to be this untouched gem” that had once sparkled bright, but needed a wee bit of re-polishing including to its social scene.

“One best way to change peoples’ lives,” he noted, “is to hang out with them. There’s no better place than a pub to hang out with people” in an atmosphere just “inviting beer, wine, a meal and talk. The only other thing I could have done was a coffee shop,” but, he added with a laugh, “I also have a family to support.”

Long time friends Dave and Tracy Lippert “live here, and their heart is for Santa Paula... they’ve been trying to bring my kids, wife Gina and I out here for years,” and Garman compromised with the creation of the Pub. In August 2008, “We all agreed they would purchase the buildings, we would bring the business to it... it made sense.”

It took about eight months for the renovation of the former pool hall and beauty shop, but many original design elements and materials were retained, including the vintage tin ceilings and the wood plank floors “a little damaged from the water” used in the salon. Garman said it was “great working with the city” on the project that moved the original bar below the new bank of windows looking out over Main Street.

The slate from the old pool tables - new ones are in the back - now tops the main bar. Stocking the bar was a priority: “We wanted to make sure we did it correctly with Scotches and Irish whiskeys” and beers, resulting in a plethora of traditional drink often hard to find.

Garman said the food was also the focus of sharp attention. “We wanted it to be inviting, we know people would try us out,” and only the highest quality - for traditional American and Irish favorites - would do.

“Our Irish tacos,” filled with corn beef and cabbage, “we know crossed the line,” Garman laughed. The fish and chips are “the best in the region,” and the assortment of boxtys were culled from a variety of Irish recipes, some of which are rare - or just not available anywhere else - between Los Angeles and San Francisco.