The "Woo" Wizard of Main St. Ups the Craic
Chris Flynn, who has been described in this space as the Zany Wizard of Main St. in Metuchen, has done it again. Apparently not satisfied with having one of the most popular pubs in central Jersey, Flynn has expanded what he fondly calls "the craic" to include a new kind of entertainment--a Retro Arcade called HarpCade which is now an official part of the Hailey's Harp & Pub Experience.
It's a throwback arcade where guests--of all ages--can try their skill at the great arcade games of the past, and still have available some of the food, drinks and exceptional beers that has made Hailey's a beer mecca for many years. Unlike the downstairs pub where Flynn has a constant stream of entertainers to create a special ambience, the guests upstairs provide their own entertainment.
The PubScout, long a patron of this quintessential Irish pub, wrote the first review of Hailey's when it opened back in November of 2009, and it's been a favorite ever since. With its pantheon of regulars, Beer Senates, special events and Constant Craic, it's the real-life twin of TV's Cheers bar.
But that bar did not have HarpCade. Check out this commercial for Flynn's newest craic fuel:
A sharp eye may be able to detect some Hailey's superstars--like camera-phobic Maura Flood, who brought along her college buddies Terry and Mary Beth to add eye candy to the commercial. And the biker in the shot is, I'm told, not a Hell's Angel, but merely a "Heck's Angel," and therefore not too dangerous.
Flynn, who's known just as much for his trademark "Wooooo" comments on social media as he is for being as camera-phobic as Maura was once "this close" to opening a second Hailey's, but circumstances forced his attention to turn elsewhere. Not that a second place is definitely off the table, but for the time being, the tables upstairs will be partnered with the tables downstairs to provide far more craic than anyone could ask for. Do yourself a favor and get over there. And bring quarters. Wooooo.
Cheers!
The PubScout
