The southeast corner of East County Line Road and Livingston Avenue in Lutz will soon be home to 40 Thieves Pub, an authentic Irish pub brand born in Groton, Connecticut. 40 Thieves will offer traditional Irish and American cuisine and a prodigious selection of Irish whiskeys at 2741 E County Line Rd.
The name comes straight out of the dramatic history of Irish immigration to the United States in the 19th Century, owner Diarm Hanafin told What Now on Wednesday..
“In 1825, all the Irish immigrants were coming into New York City, and they had to fend for themselves like everybody else,” Hanafin said. “The first Irish gang was the Forty Thieves.”
Born in Dublin, Hanafin served in the U.S. Navy and, in the years since, has been operating Irish pubs. He and his wife grew attached to Florida when he was stationed in Jacksonville, and after spending time in Connecticut, where Hanafin founded 40 Thieves Groton, the Hanafins have returned to warmer climes.
“For the past five years, we’ve been trying to do something in Tampa. It’s not been easy. But we’re almost ready to start building.”
Hanafin describes 40 Thieves as “a traditional, old school Irish pub.” The location will feature an antique bar from an old pub once located in Times Square. Hanafin won’t reveal anything on the menu yet, but he says to expect a focus on traditional foods both Irish and American, made fresh daily, and an Irish whiskey collection to rival any in the Greater Tampa Bay area.
“We’re really looking forward to it,” said Hanafin. “We think we’re bringing something completely different to anything else in the area.”
Any idea when it opens
Please tell me you’re going to stock some decent gin? I’m a couple of miles from the new location..we need this here so badly.
Hope its true Irish pub, no tvs, true Irish behind the bar, solid pint poured properly, good pub food. Might be asking too much for an Irish pub in Lutz but hope its close!