By Chad Neal
The year was 1981. Grace Kell was working at the Harness Shop in Ellicottville for Rita McKnight when she was offered the business and building. Her and husband Kevin purchased it and started a legacy as well as their family as their son Connor was born in 1981 as well in this bubble of awesomeness, known as Ellicottville, NY. The history of Madigan’s is a saga considering the building it started from a school house in the mid 1800’s. There are still a few timbers from the original building that were seedlings when George Washington was a child, that are still part of the edifice. The building can tell many a tale, but as Madigan’s we’ll say (and this was coined long before Vegas used it) what happens in Madigan’s stays in Madigan’s – for the most part.
The school house that started the saga begat businesses after they moved, likely to the 1887 building. Legend has it that after the school house it housed a tinsmith shop and a true harness shop before it became a public house and restaurant leading to what we, most of us know as Madigan’s, locally and affectionately called The Green Bar. And if you haven’t seen it as of late it has turned from the yellow vinyl siding to a beautiful shade of green with black trim and doors, giving it a new and bold look. On their Facebook page under a picture of the new siding work Cathleen Pritchard wrote “What a great new look and [it] is such a welcome coming into town. Great redo!”
Kevin and Grace ran Madigan’s and made it the iconic place it is and now their two son’s Connor and Shane take care of the day to day and have used their prowess in business to keep making it better every year. The upgrades to the building and character have been nothing short of phenomenal as they cater to the locals and visitors as well in a very accommodating fashion. This Saturday they will celebrate their 42nd Anniversary with everyone starting at 6pm. Drink specials and appetizers will be offered and some tastings as well. The party is always fun and the music on point.
Madigan’s is more than a historical building and renowned tavern, but looking around the immense building as you enjoy the atmosphere you will see many things of interest on the walls. One thing that get’s noticed by the new visitors to Madigan’s is the trough in the mens room downstairs, even upon renovating they kept it in there for relief of customers and for the nostalgia. The registers that still work are decades old and all they need is maintenance to keep working. The bar made of logs and planks by the late Ernie Rau is classic handmade decor. The cooler that many are fascinated with upon first seeing it in the downstairs bar is older than most of the patrons that come in and was made in Buffalo, New York. You might get a lesson on it from the barkeep telling you the large cylindrical refrigerator with lazy Susan shelves called a ‘Bev-A-Dor’ was first built to store blood during World War II.
Throughout the 42 years Madigan’s has seen many faces on both sides of the bar. The Kell family has the reign for owning the celebrated Bar and Grill for longer than any other place in Ellicottville and their keen cognizance for the operation is second to none as they have proven for all these years. Not only have they welcomed their employees as family, they welcome the whole community as well like family. As the vicinity has changed around them, Madigan’s changes as well with the times and to better the building as a whole. The third generation of Kell’s is being reared on Poverty Hill, Quinn and Gavin often visit their father Shane with mother Brynn for lunch during the week when school is out.
Speaking of lunch, they still have the most affordable and delicious lunch specials Tuesday through Friday served with homemade soups that are always hailed as “delicious”. Bills games are fun to watch at Madigan’s as well. Many TVs are showing a game at all times and the weekends are when the party is hopping especially on the new enlarged dance floor. Bachelorette parties and birthdays are always met with celebration, and if you get married in Ellicottville it’s good luck to dance on the bar and shoot the CO2 cannon a few times as the DJ spins many genres of dance music. The bartenders have fun right along with the guests and are quick with the libations. As the bartenders may say when you ask for one more, “It’s what we sell the most of!”