Kildare's Head House Square changes hands

The Kildare's Irish Pub at Head House Square (Second Street just north of South) is giving way to the Get Happy Pub.

On Monday, Kildare's boss Dave Magrogan sold the pub to veteran barman Paul Lauriello, the former managing partner of Kildare's King of Prussia and a five-year Kildarean. Lauriello will run the front of the house, and his wife, Christine, a caterer, will be chef.

Get Happy will open tonight. They're going for comfort foods and a "Cheers"-style scene. As for Kildare's, Magrogan says he's aiming toward college towns as he expands.

Next up will be Kildare's sixth unit, at the University of Scranton (February), followed by UNC-Chapel Hill (April) and Notre Dame (September). A Doc Magrogan's Oyster House (the third) will also open at Notre Dame in October.

Additional info: Get Happy Pub will be open Tuesdays through Fridays from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. and from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturdays. Closed Sundays and Mondays. Lauriello says that he will accept Kildare's gift cards "for several weeks," and then will steer cardholders to Kildare's in Manayunk.