Center Street is getting its own slice of Ireland next week. Kearney’s Public House is set to open at 3 p.m. next Wednesday in Mentor, taking over the former Gramma Sue’s space and turning it into an intimate Irish pub and contemporary Irish American restaurant from a local hospitality group that already has a strong Lake County footprint. Chef Ben David will run the kitchen, with roughly 100 seats inside and about 20 more on the patio.
Opening Plans and the Space
The doors are scheduled to open at 3 p.m. next Wednesday at 6316 Center St., in the building that previously housed Gramma Sue’s, according to Cleveland Scene. The outlet reports that the dining room will hold about 100 guests, with another 20 or so seats outside, and confirms that Ben David is leading the kitchen.
Cleveland Scene also notes plans for live Irish music sessions and a Sunday program that starts with brunch and shifts into a roast service later in the day. So expect a place that is part cozy pub, part neighborhood dining room, with a little weekend theater built in.
What’s Coming Out of the Kitchen
The menu sticks close to Irish American comfort food with a pub twist. Diners can expect spice bag, potato leek soup, Celtic egg rolls, steamed mussels with sausage, battered fish sandwiches, Reubens, burgers, pastas, fish and chips and Sicilian style pizzas, according to Cleveland Scene.
Brunch service is set to feature Irish breakfasts alongside American diner standards, with the kitchen later pivoting to a traditional Sunday roast. The overall setup positions Kearney’s somewhere between a classic neighborhood tavern and a full service restaurant aimed at weekday regulars and weekend families.
The Mentor Team Behind the Bar and Kitchen
The project comes from a familiar local group: Brendan Kearney, David Bartulovic, and brothers McPat and Seamus Coyne. The team also operates Nora’s Public House, Wild Goose, Sol, Fiona’s Coffee Bar and Mickey’s Ice Cream, and has opened multiple Crowley’s locations, according to reporting by Eat Local Media.
Their track record helps explain the mix of hearty comfort food and community focused programming planned for Kearney’s. At their other spots, the partners have leaned on neighborhood friendly menus and local events to build a base of regulars, and the same playbook appears to be coming to Center Street.
Liquor License and Sunday Sales
Public records list a liquor license filing for Croirish Mentor, DBA Kearney’s Public House, at 6316 Center St. The Lake County Board of Elections has included a May 6, 2025, local option question on whether to permit Sunday sales for the business at that address.
The official election notice names the business as an applicant for a D 6 permit at the Center Street location, confirming both the address and the license pursuit. Those documents are part of the county’s election and licensing notices that are posted online.
Staffing Up for Day One
On its website, Kearney’s already lists the 6316 Center St. address and is actively hiring for both front of house and kitchen roles, signaling that the team is in full pre opening mode. The site currently features a “COMING SOON” banner along with an online application form for job seekers.
Given that pace, diners can expect the usual soft open pattern, with early service focused on neighbors and a fuller schedule rolling out after the first week.
Mentor’s Shot at a True Irish Pub
Brendan Kearney told Cleveland Scene that the partners “always wanted to do a legit, authentic Irish pub,” which neatly sums up the concept’s goal.
If the launch stays on track, next Wednesday will give Mentor a modestly sized Irish American pub right in its downtown dining mix. For the latest word on soft open times and live music schedules, the restaurant’s website and social channels will be the places to watch.
