Pub in oldest Great Falls building turns one

Wayne Thares and his business partner, Channing Hartelius opened The Celtic Cowboy a year ago, an Irish pub and restaurant, a $3.5 million project in the remodeled Arvon Block at 114 to 118 1st Ave. S.

The building was originally a livery stable, built in 1890.

The pub concept was developed by The Irish Pub Co., a Dublin-based company originally established by Guinness.

The company developed more than 400 Irish pubs in the U.S., but The Celtic Cowboy is their first in Montana, Thares said.

The Arvon Block was among five buildings downtown evaluated in feasibility studies paid for in part by a $21,500 Montana Preservation Office grant, part of the Preserve America program.

City-County Historic Preservation Officer Ellen Sievert approached Thares and his wife, Sandy, for input about the boutique hotel idea for the building.

"One thing lead to another," Thares said. "I did some research and found The Irish Pub Co."

The name of the pub, The Celtic Cowboy, is the nickname of the original owner of the building, Robert Vaughn. Originally from Wales, Vaughn made his fortune in ranching in the Sun River Valley. He moved to Great Falls with his 16-month-old daughter, Arvonia, after his wife died.

"He became friends with Paris Gibson and became interested in development," Thares said. "The livery stable was the most modern at the time in the Northwest. There was a ramp for the stables, which were in the basement. The main floor was the saddlery and the showroom on the main floor and a hotel on the upper floors.

"It was either the Great Falls Tribune or the Great Falls Leader that called Vaughn 'The Celtic Cowboy,'" Thares said.

Thares and his partners in the building, Hartelius, Peter Jennings and Mac Smith continue to work on the rest of the building to complete the plan they had envisioned from the start: a pub, wine snug and boutique hotel.

"The building was the impetus for the business and not the other way around. We're thrilled with the space. Everyday the personality comes out," Thares said.

Great Falls Business: How long did you plan before committing to the business?

Thares: We had worked on the plans for about 18 months prior to opening. We actually worked on the plans for about 13 months prior to starting construction

Great Falls Business: Did you write a business plan?

Thares: Absolutely. The banks require that. An extensive business plan for the pub, the wine snug and the hotel.

Great Falls Business: In planning to open this type of business, did you have a mentor?

Thares: We did a lot of research online. Guinness does a very good job of lining up future pub owners with consultants. We talked to a lot of their consultants. Also, I've worked at the hotel/restaurant business for a long time.

Great Falls Business: What's the best advice someone else gave you about going into the pub business?

Thares: The best advice was to keep it authentic. If you are going to do an Irish pub, make sure it looks like you're in Ireland. So we spent a great deal of money making sure that the bar was authentic, that the atmosphere and that everything about it was as authentic as we could make it.

Great Falls Business: What advice would you give someone else thinking about opening a similar business?

Thares: I would say do your research, make your business plans and your forecasts and then adjust them as needed. But really follow your plan. We were about 3 months late opening the pub, we are now a year late opening the basement and we'll be two years late opening the hotel. We've had to adjust our business plan and our projections every time we have a setback but you just have to realize that those setbacks are going to occur and not get frustrated with them. You need to adjust so that it works. Do it efficiently but not cheaply.

Great Falls Business: What would you have liked to do over in the first year in business?

Thares: I think being more realistic on timelines and understanding that the process takes longer. We had a lot of expectations that just didn't happen.

Great Falls Business: How many hours a week do you put in at The Celtic Cowboy?

Thares: I probably put 40-50 hours a week at the pub. I have other businesses that I have to pay attention to as well. But we've hired a phenomenal staff that have done a great job. I have full trust in them so I don't have to be there twenty-four seven.

Great Falls Business: What is the best thing about owning this type of business?

Thares: The most gratifying things are the comments from out-of-town guests who come in and are blown away. They say, "We never expected a place like this in Great Falls, Montana, this is Denver quality, this is Seattle quality." That is the most gratifying thing for us. That we took the time to make sure we did it right.

Great Falls Business: What is the hardest thing about owning this type of business?

Thares: Regulations. All of the things it takes to open any business. It's amazing, all the things you don't think about until it comes time to open.

Great Falls Business: What plans do you have for the future of The Celtic Cowboy?

Thares: On Oct. 31st we opened our basement, which will be known as the Darkhorse Hall and Darkhorse Wine Snug. It will have a wine bar and private wine lockers and meeting and banquet space. The Darkhorse Hall opened with a Halloween costume party with a guest DJ. We'll start the Darkhorse Wine Club, a subscription-based monthly wine club as part of the wine snug the first part of January. We'll sell subscriptions during the holidays for that. It will offer private access to the wine room and a private wine locker. Our plans are to open the hotel in March prior to the art auction.