By Bill Parry
When Mickey McCreesh and his partner Nick Murphy opened Bar 43 in April 2008, they decided to make charity work a part of their business plan, so two years ago they joined with nine other restaurants and bars to form an association called Sunnyside Boulevard Bars.
“We started the organization knowing we could do some good in the community,” McCreesh said. “It’s easier to do good things … with 10 bars rather than just one.”
The group’s latest event was a “Santathon” Dec. 7. Hundreds of people took part in the pub crawl wearing Santa suits or at least a red hat. Each attendee paid $10 for a bracelet that allowed for low-price drink specials at each of the 10 bars, mostly along Queens Boulevard. The event raised nearly $7,000 for the food pantries at St. Teresa’s and St. Raphael’s, as well as the 108th Precinct’s toy drive.
In March, Sunnyside Boulevard Bars held an Irish music festival that raised more than $3,000 for a local firehouse and in September they threw a “Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day” event that raised $5,500 for the local chapter of the Boys & Girls Club.
McCreesh believes such charitable endeavors are good for community building and business as well.
“It always helps business when you get more and more people involved,” he said. “Friendships are formed along the way and it results in more regular customers.”
Bar 43, at 43-06 43rd St., became a headquarters for relief work in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy last year. McCreesh and Murphy joined a group called Sunnyside Cares that raised more than $20,000 for victims in the Rockaways. The restaurant became a drop-off location for donated supplies.
“We made runs down to Rockaway for 11 weekends in a row,” McCreesh said. “I finally had to take a break before my wife Ann-Marie divorced me.”
McCreesh’s efforts were so appreciated in the storm zone that he was named deputy grand marshal of the Queens County St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Rockaway last March.
“Mick is a big man with a big heart and what he did for us in Rockaway was remarkable,” said Michael Benn, president of the parade’s organizing committee, “and he did it with modesty.”
The 6-foot-5, 300-pound man from County Armagh, Ireland, was humbled by the honor, saying, “I was shocked to tell you the God’s honest truth. There were lots of people from Sunnyside who volunteered to help and open their wallets, too. I don’t think I should’ve been singled out for any praise.”
McCreesh added that Bar 43 and the Sunnyside Boulevard Bars organization are already planning their next event, the second annual Irish music festival, in March.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
