McGillins Olde Ale House is Philadelphias oldest continuously operating taverns and one of the oldest in the country. It was opened in 1860 – the year Lincoln was elected – as Bell in Hand Tavern. But everyone called it McGillin’s – after Pa & Ma McGillin, who ran the tavern & raised their 13 children upstairs. After Pa died (1901), Ma ran it with an iron-hand and even survived prohibition. Their daughter, Mercedes (who grew up upstairs) sold the bar to Joe Sepaniak & Henry Spaniak (brothers who spelled their names differently) in 1958. Henrys daughter (Joes niece), Mary Ellen Mullins and her husband (Chris Mullins Sr) took over in 1993 and their son (Henrys grandson), Christopher Mullins, Jr. is now taking over the reins. Christopher graduated from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration and honed his skills at Philadelphia’s esteemed Union League before becoming the third generation of his family to join the business.
- 215-735-5562 Phone
- mcgillins@aol.com Email
- www.mcgillins.com Website
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McGillins Olde Ale House