Ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, the iconic dogtown company announces a change of ownership

ST. LOUIS – A local business is changing hands ahead of Friday’s big St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the Dogtown neighborhood. Joe Jovanovich, the owner of The Pat Connolly Tavern, says his family is selling the business.

“It wasn’t necessarily something we were looking for, but we were approached with this opportunity,” Jovanovich said. “At first we thought no way, but then as we thought more about it and opened up to what it might look like, we finally decided to give it a try.”

According to Jovanovich, some restaurant owners felt reinvigorated after their businesses weathered the pandemic. While he’s proud that Pat’s has kept his doors open, the experience led him down a different path.

“Is that really my heart? If we have to put that much energy into making this work in this post-COVID environment, that’s really my heart,” Jovanovich said.

He said the new owner won’t take it over until June. For now, everything is business as usual, and he expects business to be booming in Dogtown on Friday.

“We hope people will come and celebrate the last Connolly St. Patrick’s Day,” Jovanovich said.

For a man who’s spent nearly every St. Patrick’s Day here since he was a child, Jovanovich said he’s ready to face the next March 17 on the other side of the bar.

“I also look forward to coming here as a regular guest for future St. Patrick’s Days,” he said. “I think it’s going to be something special. I’ve never been able to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day with my kids and maybe next year I’ll be able to.”

https://fox2now.com/news/contact-2/ahead-of-st-patricks-day-iconic-dogtown-business-announces-ownership-change/ Ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, the iconic dogtown company announces a change of ownership