J.J. Ratigan and Company

History

Pottstown was once a booming industrial town in the late 1700s to the early 1800s. The economy even saw growth during the 1960s and 70s. Unfortunately, it started going downhill in the 80s due to the closure of many companies and factories. Today, the community is looking to rebuild these local businesses and create more jobs. The people of this town are looking to turn Pottstown into a thriving destination for travelers and the people who live here.

The Company

After a group of investors like Steve Everett, Randy Young, and Dan Glennon, purchased the old Ellis Mills building, they turned it into J.J. Ratigan Brewing Company. The idea was to create a brewery on High Street, right in the heart of Pottstown. This industrial theme building feels welcoming and comfortable, even while following the guidelines for COVID-19. This restaurant is one part of a plan to rebuild Pottstown and turn this economy around for the better.

Upper Management

Randy Young, one of the investors, brought his skills in brewing to get this business off the ground. Once established, they'd go on to make some of the town's most delicious beers. Then, they’d put their attention towards creating the second half of their vision, the restaurant. Conrad Flynn, Hiram Quintana, Samantha Romito, and the community itself partnered together to create what you see today as J.J. Ratigan, and it has become one of Pottstowns’ popular new additions.

Description

This casual and fine-dining restaurant makes dishes that are meant to complement their drinks. Their inventory is stocked by local businesses, and products are made straight from scratch. You’ll also have a pleasant time with their top-rated staff and hear from great local musicians. You can see where the beer is brewed or go to another level to do some axe throwing. You can even go downstairs and shoot pool, play the arcade, or get a drink at the bar. This restaurant also has an impressive 4.5+ ratings from some of the most famous review sites like Google, TripAdvisor, and Yelp. But, without the community, this business would not be what we see today.

Drinks

With their selection of over 50 different bourbons, wines, cocktails, and beers, you're sure to find a drink you'll like. Randy uses his talent to create all different types of Bavarian, Munich, and other German-style beers. I came to personally enjoy their light lager called Thirst Responder. If you aren’t a fan of beer and want something sweeter, their craft bar has a great selection of cocktails. Their latest addition, Fruity Pebbles White Russian, was a surprise because it tasted like a good bowl of spiked cereal. But now, with this pandemic, you can’t just go anywhere and get a drink without food in front of you. Thankfully, J.J. Ratigan has some pretty good food.

Food

Their dishes are inspired by cuisines from all around the world. These are Bulgarian and Croatian inspired with a unique and authentic American spin. I got the opportunity to try the Creole-inspired dish, Fish & Grits. The texture from the red snapper itself is flakey and soft. Plus, the combination of the soft and cheesy grits provides great bedding to make this a top tier dish. You can even find dishes ranging from the Pork Schnitzel to the Swordfish Jambalaya. Each plate is portioned generously with a divine taste that brings out the true essence of quality. Between the food, drinks, and atmosphere, I wanted to know more about the people in charge. So, I got the chance to sit down with a couple of the staff and talk more about their relationship with the company and how the restaurant has made its impact on the community.

Conrad Flynn

Conrad Flynn is one of the masterminds behind the bar and in the kitchen. With his experience from the Hamilton in Lehigh Valley, he becomes one of the key members to the success of J.J. Ratigan. Using social media, he promotes different social events and fundraisers to both support and bring awareness to the community. Conrad mentioned in the interview, "one of my main goals during this pandemic is making sure my employees are working and paid the best that I can." The stress of having to shut the business down the next day discouraged him due to the restrictions, but the community came together to make sure he and his staff were paid this past holiday.

Hiram Quintana

Pottstown native and World Food Champion Hiram Quintana is the head cook, and he brings out the originality and creativity of these dishes. Traveling to many places, he has been influenced by different Texas and Alabama barbecues. The people who inspired him the most growing up were his mother, father, and Michael Markoski. He’s been with the company since October of last year. For the first 3 months, they were cooking from the back until the kitchen was built. Once built, they did everything from cooking 3,500 meals for hospitals, firefighters, and law enforcement, to making 300 pounds of turkey for their Thanksgiving Eve Party. Many people would say, “he’s the most involved person at J.J. Ratigan.” One of those people is Samantha, the front of house manager.

Samantha Romito

Samantha Romito has been with J.J.'s since July of 2020. She was also one of many that came from Hamilton. Conrad and Sam have known each other for about 4 years. She says, "my staff and I feel like a true family. I wouldn't make this far of a commute if it wasn't for them." She talked about how important this restaurant and its team are to her. The people of Pottstown raised $7,000 for their Holiday Fund so the staff could receive a "normal" paycheck because of the lockdown at the end of last year. "That's the kind of support that makes such a big impact on me and my team," she said. Their number one priority is making sure everyone can get more hours and make as much money as possible.

Community Opportunities

J.J.'s has provided for the community, and the same has been done in return. They've hosted many parties and provided so many meals. There've been talks of holding multiple food and beer festivals throughout the summer of 2021. This event would have everything from live music, food trucks, and drinks all provided by the community. They also look to collaborate with other upcoming events such as Cruising High Street. There are also rumors of a Beer Olympics, so get ready to mark those calendars.

Expansion

For many of the investors and executives who run J.J. Ratigan and these other companies, Pottstown is their main focus. They are looking to open more establishments, but keep them within the area. They’ve recently opened a new shop that’s partnered with Wagyu Beef inside Pottstown Terminal called Sizzle. There’s also a new restaurant opening Valentine’s Day weekend right behind J.J., known as Stave and Stable. This fine-dining restaurant serves American dishes with a French or Italian upscale influence. Chef Hiram will be the executive chef, and you’ll be able to watch him work while you enjoy the night.

Partnership

Not only does this restaurant provide amazing food and drinks, but they also look for ways to support the community. Most of their inventory comes from other businesses in the area. They’ve partnered with places like The Alley on High Street, Wagyu Beef, Kiki Vodka, and many more to support one another. They look for opportunities to provide local musicians a platform to perform and gain exposure. Local musicians like Thomas J. Martin, Kendall Conrad, and Jacob Currie deliver outstanding performances while you eat. I also got the chance to talk with Jacob about his music and relationship with J.J.’s.

Jacob Currie

Jacob Currie is one of many local talented musicians and recently played over the weekend. He discovered music at the age of 15 with a guitar and just started playing. Soon after, his neighbor took the time to teach him the fundamentals of music. This was when he started to believe in himself. Then, he started looking for shows in the area, and the rest is history. Today, finding God, being 3 years sober, and happy with his new relationship, he's been performing at J.J.'s since January of 2020. He has also performed in many different locations within the area. COVID-19 started as a struggle for him, but restaurants in the area have done their best to give these musicians a platform. He's thankful to have had 13 performances in September alone. Now, he plays at J.J.’s every first Saturday of the month.

COVID-19

To do these events, we must do our part to follow COVID-19 guidelines. This pandemic has made a significant impact on the bar and restaurant industry. J.J.’s has received massive support from the community, but they still have their share of challenges. Following guidelines such as wearing a mask, sanitizing, social distancing, and lowering capacity is practiced regularly. The staff use high-quality sanitation solution to give their customers peace of mind. The use of outdoor dining and delivery make up for the lack of capacity indoors. The use of their spacious facility has been an advantage to practice social distancing. Even for axe throwing, every other lane is closed, and everything down to the axe’s is sanitized. Luckily, there’s enough space to even host a live performance indoors. They go above and beyond to ensure their business can continue to operate.

Conclusion

J.J. Ratigan is a great brewery that will become a gem for Pottstown. The effort, energy, and funding the community has generated to establish and maintain this restaurant is what makes this town special. We work together to make sure one another thrives, and we provide these services at a high quality to bring our economy back. After taking some time to get to know the staff, I’ve learned a lot more about how they’ve both helped the community and how the community has helped them. With COVID-19 creating waves of issues for the businesses within our state, it's up to us to make sure we get through them together. Please remember to follow COVID-19 guidelines so we can keep these businesses operating and our community employed. And help keep local owned businesses up and running by supporting them as much as you can.