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With a new beer-brewing Utah owner, Irish eyes are once again smiling on MacCool’s Public House

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Fish and chips at MacCool's Public House in Layton, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Fish and chips at MacCool's Public House in Layton, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020.

By https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/sltrib/53048f8e-41fe-4083-a446-2c3d9ac26315.png Kathy Stephenson
 | March 13, 2020, 6:00 a.m.
| Updated: March 15, 2020, 4:59 p.m.

Call it Irish luck.

Just weeks before MacCool’s Public House in Layton was going to shut down, new beer-brewing owners stepped in to save the struggling eatery.

Since taking over in January, The Lotus Co. — a Salt Lake City real estate and development firm that is in the process of building Ogden River Brewing Co. — has updated the menu and refreshed the interior. The restaurant’s official relaunch takes place this week, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day.

“In an area where there are mostly chain restaurants and big box stores,” said president of hospitality Doug Hofeling, “MacCool’s is one of the true local brands in the [Davis County] corridor.”

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Fish & Chips at MacCool's Public House in Layton, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020.

Hofeling and fellow Lotus partner James Soares served as chief operating officer and director of operations and sustainability, respectively, for Squatters and Wasatch breweries. Together, they have more than 40 years of experience in the craft beer and restaurant industries.

While Utah has several Irish-themed bars for those 21 and older, Hofeling said, MacCool’s, at 855 N. Heritage Park Blvd., focuses on a more family-friendly niche. It has a restaurant license from the state that allows guests to enjoy beer, wine and spirits with their food.

MacCool’s serves Guinness beer as well as Utah-made brews, and it will soon become the official tasting site for Ogden River Brewing. The Lotus Co.’s signature hospitality project is expected to open this summer at 358 Park Blvd.

Lotus also plans a second brewery — called Fife Brewing Co. — at 61 E. 700 South in Salt Lake City. The company has hired Patrick Bourque, formerly of Uinta Brewing, as the director of brewing for both Utah operations.

With that kind of expertise behind it, Hofeling expects MacCool’s to make an Irish-style comeback.

Not that long ago, MacCool’s was Salt Lake City’s go-to Irish pub. The original restaurant on Foothill Drive in Salt Lake City was popular place for Irish specialties like lamb riblets, shepherd’s pie and fish and chips. It soon expanded to South Jordan and Layton.

Hofeling said when one of the original owners got sick, the company began to founder and the two Salt Lake County locations closed.

The Layton restaurant hung on for several more years, but at the end of December, it too was about to be shuttered. Then the landlord of the building reached out to Lotus.

Besides many old favorites, MacCool’s menu includes new items like a beef stew bread bowl, a traditional Reuben and corned beef au gratin pie. There also are gluten-free and vegan options. In addition to lunch and dinner, MacCool’s is open for brunch and — in warmer weather — customers can dine on the outdoor patio.

MacCool’s Public House • 855 N. Heritage Park Blvd. No. 3, Layton; 801- 728-9111. Open Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. -10 p.m.; Saturday, 10:30 a.m. -10 p.m.; and Sunday 10:30 a.m. -9 p.m.

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