Business Of The Month
Luck of The Irish Comes To Milton

Since the opening of Olde Blind Dog Irish Pub in Crabapple this past month, it has been raved about by everyone who has stepped through their doors.

From the authentic Irish menu and classic American pub foods to the museum like atmosphere taking you back to the 18th century, it is no wonder this Irish pub has been the talk-of-the-town. While things are rocking and rolling now, to get to this point required a long winding road of patience, perseverance, and timing.

To experience the inception of Olde Blind Dog, you have to go back some two years. Milton resident, Ron Wallace, had been approached by some investors to oversee the creation of an Irish Pub. Before jumping on board, he spent about six months studying the possibilities. He gathered different views and opinions to educate himself on the success rate of restaurants. "I would not have been interested in any kind of restaurant because I know the failure rate is very high. To the tune of about 80% first year," Wallace recently shared. "When I heard about an Irish Pub, I started researching and found that they were about 90% successful in the United States if done right." The focus was a true Celtic and American fare and everything that goes along with it; soccer, music, and an air that would bring the luck of the Irish right to your door step.

Another requirement of Ron's was to find a high-end general manager to help ensure success. Needless to say, the top dog's credentials had to be impeccable with a knowledge and a history second-to-none "That person (had to have ) opened at least 20 successful restaurants that are still standing today and I would of know them."Wallace reflected, but that wasn't all."I was looking for somebody that the chemistry has to mix - the honesty and integrity is above everything."

After numerous interviews and misses, Geoff Kokoszka entered the picture and the timing could not have been more perfect. Eventually, the two men would end up spending countless hours together looking at concepts and sharing ideas.

Once the GM position was filled, the focus then turned to bringing on an additional eight people. Each brought a different skill set to the table; from kitchen layout and interior design to the menu creation and everything in between. With the team under Geoff's leadership, they were ready to go forward.

General Manager Geoff Kokoszka was right in line with Ron's approach. He researched about 100 pubs across the world, from Ireland, to England, as well as the States. From the look of each to the ingredients of the menu, he never wavered on his strict analysis.

Due to kitchen space concerns and production, he knew one thing right off the bat. "I didn't want to make the menu very big," Geoff said. It was also imperative for them to provide a menu that ensured freshness with everything being made from scratch in house. Nothing is frozen or comes out of a bag. They make their own salad dressings, grind their own beef for hamburgers, and cook their own corned beef fresh every day.

With all of that in mind, they chose a Celtic focused bill of fare which includes six appetizers, about nine sandwiches, and some Irish classics such as Bangers and Mash, as well as Shepherd's Pie and Irish stew; both made with lamb.

Another aspect to any Irish Pub is the infamous pint. While the beer options are numerous, nothing screams Ireland more than Guinness beer. Most American drafts are poured at 38 degrees. However, Guinness recommends that their product be poured at 42 degrees. To guarantee that this ale of national pride is treated properly, the folks at Olde Blind Dog decided to listened to the masters themselves." We have a cooler within a cooler. The internal cooler is held at 40 degrees to allow the Guinness to go from its 40 degree holding temperature by the time it gets to the tap at it's pouring temperature of 42 degrees," Geoff said.

To ensure perfection, a Guinness technician known as a 'Global Ambassador' visited Olde Blind Dog and toured the facility. "(They ) spent a good 45 minutes to an hour in our keg cooler just making sure the lines were correct; that we had them hooked up properly, poured the first Guinness for us, made sure it was poured at the perfect temperature," added Geoff. The ambassador walked away and provided his official seal of approval by saying 'if it's gonna be done any way- this is the way to do it.'

The atmosphere is another thing that sets Olde Blind Dog apart. Most everything is between 150 to 300 years old. What is not was antiqued to appear as though it shares the same history. When it comes to the environment, the build went "green" any time they could. For those fans of the movie "Braveheart", you can also say hello to Scotsman William Wallace currently being held behind bars. Needless to say, this type of attention to detail is awe inspiring. With Crabapple being Milton's most historic node, this pub fits in as if it had been there for generations.

The pub has a capacity of 120 guests inside and roughly 40 plus on the patio, so there is plenty of room.

Olde Blind Dog Irish Pub is also kid and business friendly. "There's very few places, if any, that has the privacy...our guest can enjoy a quite corner with family, friends or client or be part of the lively activity of meeting new friends at the bar. That was very critical to us," Ron Wallace added. With a true separation between the dining room and bar, they succeeded. If you are looking for more social entertainment, then you might want to put your dinner plans back an hour or so."At about 8:30 each night the music goes up, the lights go down and it becomes more of an Irish Pub so there is something for everybody."

Geoff agrees."It's mean to be a neighborhood tavern. You can go belly up to the bar, sit, relax, enjoy a pint with friends." One of the most popular places in the pub is the community harvest table which holds about ten or twelve people. "That has become the busiest place for folks just to sit and mingle. You'll walk in you'll see five different groups of two to three people sitting at that table just talking to each other; just getting to know each other."

St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner and the staff is gearing up for one heck of a celebration! Starting on Friday, March 13th, the three day celebration will include various types of entertainment including Irish Dancers and three Irish bands. A large tent will be set up to handle extra visitors.

To learn more about Olde Blind Dog or to view the menu, you can visit in person or go online OldeBlindDog.com.

12650 Crabapple Road
Milton, GA 678.624.1090
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