04/16/2023
Today the Manx Pub turns 30 years old.
Time is a strange thing, both slow and fast. Feels like it was just yesterday that a small group of ragtag souls--David, Marcia, Archie, Chris and Robyn … with a little help from our friends (okay, sometimes a lot!)—managed to come together to make a small, safe and independent community-oriented space in what at that time seemed like a sea of Ottawa chain restaurants.
We did a lot of things wrong, as all small business owners do, but we learned to pivot and adapt, always in service and based on feedback from our customers.
Many thought us crazy—and let’s be real some of our decisions had very little business sense—but they were always made based on our love for our staff and the people we serve.
There are so many memories steeped into the walls of our tiny basement establishment. Good dates (and the very rare bad date), get-togethers with new or near and dear friends, birthdays, reunions, readings, art openings and so much music.
We have had the honour of witnessing people who are now long married – meet for the first time. We know of more Manx babies than any of us care to admit. We often knew first if someone was pregnant, had lost their jobs, were starting a new adventure, or were giddy on a ridiculous crush. The Manx has had the privilege of being a community living room where so many of us have come together to show and share our strengths and vulnerabilities, our friendships and our fights, our thoughts, our dreams and our sorrows.
To all the wonderful staff that have, over these thirty years, helped sling pints, crack eggs, cut potatoes, wash dishes and create magical food and an authentic welcoming atmosphere – Thank You! You are and will always be family to us and we are so grateful for all that you do – big and small. From your heroic efforts to keep up with the cleaning and seasonal shoveling, to the quiet deep breaths of patience you took while facing many of the discomforts and stresses of the job. You are all a huge part of what makes the Manx so special. We love you.
To our City and our customers – we are a reflection of you, we do this for you and we would not be here without your loyalty. Thank you so much. And know that over the years when someone let us know about something not being what they wanted or expected we always took it as a gift. If you didn’t care about the Manx, you would not take the brave step of letting us know when we let you down. We want you to know that while certainly imperfect, with certainty, we have listened, and we have done our best to grow and get better.
Thirty years is both such a long and a short time. So many people to thank – you know who you are – and we are so grateful. We miss the people we have lost - we love the people we have gained. May we continue to keep building community together for many years to come.
Love,
The Manx
