Fergus “Fergie” Carey: Philly’s Unofficial Mayor

What this episode covers

There are few bigger legends in Philadelphia than Fergus “Fergie” Carey. An Irish immigrant who moved here in his early 20s and bartended at McGlinchey’s, in 1994 he and his friend Wajih Abed opened the first new bar to be opened in Philly in years. Named Fergie’s, it would help set off a bar and restaurant Renaissance that Philly is still enjoying almost a quarter of a century later. Three years later, he opened Monk’s Tavern, the first Belgian bar in the city, introducing Philadelphians to new styles of beer they had never tried before. He is also part owner of the Belgian Cafe in the Art Museum area and Grace Tavern in the Graduate Hospital area. In this episode of the Philly Blunt, we talk to Fergie about his days managing Burgerland in Dublin (“You learn that you ain’t managing the walls and the equipment, you’re managing the people.”), his first 24 hours in Philly (“I arrived at Philadelphia at 8 pm on a Saturday night, and by 9 am on Sunday morning I was working in the Cherry Hill Mall at a taco restaurant called El Taco Grande.”), and whether he would ever run for Mayor (“I was always a fan of the two party system: Friday and Saturday.”) This is a wide ranging and hilarious interview. Enjoy! Fergie’s Pub links: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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