Dishing on Fergie's Pub - and Fergie
"First thing Fergie ever told me about tending bar was that the least important part was making drinks."
Thoughts from various folks about Fergie's Pub as it marks its 20th annivresary on Nov. 28, 2014.
"I've had the pleasure of watching Fergie and Fergie's Pub mature over the past 20-plus years, and each step of the laughter-filled way has been rewarding. Fergie has used his charm, ability to recognize everyone, intelligence, and love of the arts to grow his little pub into an epicenter for food, drink, music and art. [The pub] has also played a key role in the de-mystification of craft beer over the years." — Suzanne O'Brien, restaurant consultant
"Fergie has been an inspiration to me and many other aspiring bar owners in the city.... I was never [as much] impressed with how much Fergie knows about the industry, but more taken with how much he is willing to learn." — Brendan Hartranft, Memphis Taproom, Local 44, Strangelove's
"First thing Fergie ever told me about tending bar was that the least important part was making drinks. Watching Fergie made me want to own bars. That place was my life for a really long time. I wrote my best when I was there, I collaborated my best when I was there, I learned the most when I was there. I wouldn't be in the same place nor would I be the same person if I never walked into that bar." — Casey Parker, Jose Pistola's and Sancho Pistola's
"I think what Fergie's [Pub] is about transcends 'beer.' .... What Fergie's offers is far more valuable, most valuable on a social level. The bar adheres to the very thing that called me to Center City when I was a kid — the idea that all kinds of stuff is going on there all the time, and it's all types of people. Every bar in this city has huge lessons to learn from Fergie's." — Joey Sweeney, Philebrity
"[Fergie's Pub] was the place I went to when I when I got done work. Fergie always knew your name and what you drank. It was such a diverse group of people and everyone was always welcome. When I opened Old Eagle Tavern I wanted to create a similar feeling that I got from some of my favorite bars, and Cherry Street Tavern (where I worked) and Fergie's were definite inspirations." — Erin Wallace, Devil's Den, Old Eagle Tavern and Barren Hill Tavern
"When we started to work on opening Vintage, Fergie offered everything from advice to cocktail straws, anything we needed, he said, after superhumanly remembering my and [my wife's] name and tidbits about our life we'd told him in passing, months before." — Jason Evenchik, Vintage, Time, Bar, Growlers and Garage
"Why is Fergie good at running bars? He treats employees well and treats customers well, but most importantly, none of it is calculated. It's just his resting behavior to treat people with respect." — Christine Chisholm, Carey's wife