Fergie's Pub Celebrates Its Nineteenth Anniversary, Mon., Dec. 2

Before Fergie’s Pub there was nothing. Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration. But let’s face it, when Fergus “Fergie” Carey opened the doors of his eponymous pub on Sansom Street near 13th Street way back in 1994, editors from Food & Wine and Travel + Leisure certainly weren’t flocking to the neighborhood in search of the latest trend-setting concept from Stephen Starr, Jose Garces, Marc Vetri or Marcie Turney and Val Safran.

As a matter of fact, the only establishments you could find open in what’s now Midtown Village after sunset in those days were typically in the business of porn or other pleasure-oriented pastimes. Back then, naysayers said Carey was crazy for setting up shop there.

Now nearly two-decades later, the blocks surrounding Fergie’s have come full circle, and are abuzz with new and hip bars, restaurants and retail. And with the pub’s perennial popularity anchoring an impressive empire built in its wake, Carey seems less of a madman, and more of a visionary trailblazer.

Tonight Fergie’s celebrates its 19th anniversary. Stop in after 7 PM, grab a drink and raise a toast to Carey and the enduring success of his pub.