What's the craic? That's what people in Ireland ask when they are looking for a good time, fun and a place to congregate for good conversation, according to Jay Hunter. It is also the phrase that has inspired Hunter to open Shannon's Irish Ale House, a new bar in Worcester at 65 Green St.
"We're not making food that you can't make at home, typically," Hunter told MassLive. "They (the customers) are here for the experience, the ambiance, to be connected."
Hunter, 53, opened the bar in early October after selling his previous establishment, Hunters Grille and Tap at the Grafton Inn.
The bar is smaller than the one at the Grafton Inn, but Hunter told MassLive that this was good. He said he sold his old restaurant to find something more manageable and that business has been going well since Shannon's first opened at the beginning of the month.
"It was time to get a smaller place," he said. "So we sold that and we found this and decided, let's try it."
The bar's walls are covered in signs with Irish images and sayings, along with eight televisions playing different programs. The gray ceiling is decked out for Halloween, covered in fake cobwebs, and attached are two spinning fans with a ghoul dressed in a shroud attached to each of them.
Scattered throughout the bar are various nick nacks, from an old clock, a coat of arms with two swords intersecting, old canes, and a suit of armor in the corner of the bar holding a tennis racket in its hands and wearing a hot dog hat on its helmet.
Working the bar while handing out papers for Keno is Hunter's wife, Shannon -- whom the bar is named after. Behind her is a wide selection of whiskies, ryes and other alcohol. Above the bottles are a row of rubber ducks painted green. The ducks are given away to customers for free if they order one of the drinks served at Shannon's -- the Irish Mai Tai. Hunter says this drink has been quite popular since the bar opened at the beginning of the month.
"I think we started with over 40 ducks, and now we have half of that," he said.
Another popular drink at the bar is the Shannon's Espresso Martini, which is made with Jameson and espresso pods, Hunter said. In addition to drinks, the bar services soups, appetizers, sandwiches and pizza. Hunter says he tries to keep his food at $15 or less and that specials won't be more than $18-$20. He admits it is tricky to maintain as food is still somewhat expensive to buy, but he is committed to keeping prices low for his customers.
"You just have to make sure you are purchasing and buying the right things at the right time from the right people," Hunter said.
There is a second room attached to the main room. In it are a leather sofa and some chairs in a circle with a checkerboard in the middle. The walls of this room feature a television, more signs and two dart boards that can be used for games. There is also a giant clock mounted on the wall with a sign underneath that reads "whats the craic?"
This room is the "craic room" where people can congregate, play games and find out what's happening from others -- creating the "good times" atmosphere the bar seeks to bring.
"They say the craic is in the back," Hunter told MassLive.
The "craic" will also soon be outside the bar, as Hunter is working on turning the outside patio into a place where people can drink and eat. He expects this will be done by next year.
A walkway with an American flag painted on the wall connects the main bar and the craic room. Hunter told MassLive the paint was there when he bought the bar and decided not to change it during remodeling. Instead, he has dubbed this wall the "wall of awesomeness" and is collecting patches from first responders that can be attached to the wall. Some of the patches on the wall are from surrounding towns, such as Grafton and Westborough.
"We're hoping to have some military there too," Hunter said.
Born and raised in Worcester's Vernon Hill neighborhood, Hunter became interested in the food industry when he was 15. His first job in the industry was at the Showcase Cinema in downtown Worcester, where the Hanover Theatre is now located.
Hunter said he was responsible for several tasks at the movie theater, from handing out tickets to serving popcorn and refreshments. Here, he fell in love with the food industry, a love he still holds today.
"As a kid, you should try to get into one of those jobs at some point," he said. "Just to have an appreciation for what it takes because there's a lot that goes into it behind the scenes."
After high school, Hunter worked in trades, with his most recent being a union job at Verizon in the 2000s and 2010s. By 2013, however, he had enough and wanted to return to the food industry. Hunter eventually bought and began work on refurbishing the Grafton Inn to turn it into Hunter's Grille and Tap. Hunter used the skills he picked up in his trades to turn the 200 building into his own business.
"You wear a lot of different hats when you own your own business," Hunter said. "From sweeping the floor, to fixing a piece of equipment."
In 2016, Hunter's opened its doors to the public. The restaurant had to be closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Hunter said his business bounced back. By 2023, however, there was a labor shortage, and it was decided that they would sell the restaurant and find a smaller location.
Despite the move, many of Hunter's regulars from the old restaurant still show up at Shannon's and share stories and news. These customers come from Worcester and surrounding areas such as Grafton and Shrewsbury, and all are offering the "craic" to Hunter and each other.
"That's why we go out," Hunter said. "To have a good conversation and meet good people."
Shannon's Irish Ale House is open Monday through Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.