How Restaurants are Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day This Year

By Yaw Bonsu

SYRACUSE N.Y. – The city of Syracuse has experienced 37-straight years of the St. Patrick’s Day parade, However, that streak was snapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Despite, overall cases in Syracuse going down, legislation decided to cancel the parade once again, forcing restaurants to adapt to new holiday plans.

Coleman’s Irish Pub is one of the restaurants that had to make a push for good business, even with lines being smaller than usual.

“It’s been going on so long, it’s so traditional,” said Peter Coleman, owner of the self-named pub. “…when you take that away from somebody, it hurts.” Coleman has been running Syracuse for over five decades with him taking full ownership following the passing of his father.

When customers usually come to Coleman’s they are used to gulping down a shot of alcohol or a cup of Guinness beer. However, when St. Paddy’s Day rolls around, those cups become filled with green coloring to raise the level of excitement surrounding the holiday.

Painted shamrocks, leprechaun-inspired outfits, and the restaurant’s patented Irish fries were all a part of the festivities. The youngest customer in the restaurant, Ryan Halloran, described the day as “perfect.” 

Ryan’s mother, Nicole Halloran, expressed how great it is to see Coleman’s continued traditions. “…with COVID, everything’s been a little different but they do a great job,” said Halloran. 

How does Coleman’s create the normal St. Patrick’s Day feel? “With their green beer and with all of their regular specials they have on the menu,” Halloran continued.

Coleman’s switched from long lines in the past to having customers make reservations for a specific time slot 

Nevertheless, Peter Coleman always expects big things on the other side of the rainbow, “It’s not the same,” Coleman said. “It’s the biggest day of business for all of us here a Syracuse, especially as Irish Pubs. It’s such a big time.”