Irish pub culture is going mobile.
That’s to say, suburban Chicago chef Simon Kearney of St. Charles is launching Roaming Hoolies, where instead of you going to the pub, the pub will come to you.
Kearney said the impetus for the Roaming Hoolies trailer came to him late last year after seeing Facebook posts about similar operations in Ohio and New Jersey.
“I thought, what a fantastic idea. Plus, there is nothing like it here in Illinois,” Kearney said.
While somewhat handy around the house, Kearney said he’s not a builder. He found one in Carol Stream called Advantage Trailer.
“I’m over the moon about what they’re doing,” Kearney said.
That business is custom-making a 20-foot by 8-foot Roaming Hoolies trailer. Kearney had hoped to have it hit the road for the St. Patrick’s Day season. Now he expects it will be ready by May and for warmer weather.
From the outside, Roaming Hoolies will be like a food truck designed to resemble the exterior of a traditional Irish pub. But whereas a food truck has a kitchen, the Roaming Hoolies mobile will have two beer lines and taps, including one set that can be used for nitrogen-based Guinness.
The mobile unit will also be able to hold 15 to 20 people who can sit inside an Irish pub-like setting, Kearney said. Toward that feel, the cozy space will also include trinkets, a big TV and more.
Kearney is also buying a tent along with beer and whiskey barrels to use as tables outside the setup.
At least initially, Kearney plans to run Roaming Hoolies as a “dry hire” pub. That means, while he will supply the mobile and bartenders, those who use his services will provide the beverages that they want served at their shindig.
“We can help put together their shopping list, giving them an idea of how much beer and other alcohol they should buy based on the number of guests they expect,” Kearney said.
With AI renderings of the pub, a logo, website and social media up already, Kearney said he’s had a few inquiries from people who are interested in Roaming Hoolies coming to their golf outings. He also sees his market as pretty much any reason people have for celebrating, including town festivals, corporate events, wedding receptions, college graduations, birthday parties and maybe even Irish wakes.
Come March 2027, he hopes to be setting up for St. Patrick’s Day parades and other related holiday events. If business goes as well as anticipated, Kearney said he will have a second Roaming Hoolies vehicle available, too.
For now, the plan is to take assignments anywhere within a 50-mile radius of St. Charles, where Kearney lives.
Kearney came to the Fox Valley from the outskirts of Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1998 to be the head chef at McNally’s Irish Pub in St. Charles, where he worked for 10 years. He’s been involved in several restaurants since, including Whiskey Bend in St. Charles and O’Hare’s Pub in Bartlett.
“I thought I would give it a year or two, and I’ve been here for almost 28 years,” Kearney said.
With that much time in the kitchen, Kearney felt he needed some time off, which he began late last year.
Now he’s devoting his time to launching Roaming Hoolies. His wife, Kathleen, who works in health care, will be lending a hand with the new business as will grown children Maeve and Liam.
“This should give me time to spend with my family,” he said.
For bookings and more information, go to www.roaminghoolies.com.
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
