8 Manhattan limes Auaust 28.

2008

IllnGSuCCESS
. ~,
"If you tum your back on this business it's over.
-David Hunt

Secretsof theirSuccess:Coogan's adapts to a (;hanging demographic

about Coogan's was that you perks. "Everyday is entirely
by Dorkys Ranws
Coogaa's Restaurant, situated can get inside, be safe aad you different tram beginning to
on the corner of W. 169th Street wouldn't have to worry," Hunt end," he said. "It's never boring
and Broadway, has been a said. "Now the neighborhood and you constantly meet new
Washington Heights staple for has changed to the point where people. Everyone wants to be
decades. Established in 1985, people want to sit outside and be fiiendly with the saloonkeeper."
the restaurant was named after seen.77 Some of these people include
Coogan's Bluff, the hill located The owners aren't ones to idly celebrities such as Derek Jeter,
on Edgecombe Avenue between sit back and rest on their laurels Bill Murray, Milly Quezada
W. 155th aad W. 160th Streets though. They make sure to give and Alicia Keys and politicians
which overlooks the site of two back to the community Hunt such as Al Gore and Dominican

-
incarnations of the former Polo said has embraced them. For the Republic President Leonel
Grounds where the New York past 10 years, Coogan's has held Fernandez. And, of course, there
Metropolitans and New York the Salsa, Blues and Shamrocks are Coogan's faithful customers
Giaats played. The Mets also 5K Run and so far has raised who keep coming back year

played there prior to 1964 while
Shea Stadium was being built.
When NewYork-Presbyteriaa
Hospital, which owns the
bnilding Coogaa's is in, waated
a nearby eatery for its staff aad
visitors, Coogaa's four original
owners jumped at the chaace
when few others were willing
to take that risk. Though owners
have come aad gone over the
years, the current team of David
Hunt, Peter Walsh and Tess
McDade has been together since
1990.
When it comes to running a
successful business, the owners
of Coogaa's see the importance
in gathering information from
both customers and other
establishments.
"The restaurant business is no
longer a business that can run
by itself," Hunt said. "If you
turn your back on this business
it's over. You have to constantly
be monitoring it, updating
and presenting new things to
people. "
Therefore, Hunt and his
partners keep up with restaurant
associations and read trade
I f
... L;;.."""'"
Coogan's
-co-owner David Hunt in the back room
dedicated to the sport of IUnnlng.
magazines to find out what
restaurants in other parts of
the country are doing. They
also update their menus and
specials to keep things tresh. "A
restaurant has to do two things,"
he added. "It has to supply
the demands of the customer
and it also has an obligation
to introduce new ideas to the
public." Some of these new ideas
include a growing selection of
healthy items while making sure
those seeking a meaty burger are
not disappointed.
-
L:.or' _.
of his restaurant,
But their improvements don't
end in the kitchen. They've
recently added two large flat
screen TVs in the bar area
(bringing their grand total up
to seven) as well as a new draft
beer system. And as of Aug.
17, customers can enjoy those
beers outside in the restaurant's
new outdoor cafe, a feature the
owners were toying with for
many years. "Originally when
Washington Heights was a much
rougherperceivedneighborhood,
people thought the nice thing
close to half a million dollars after year.
for the Armory Track and Field Friends Lee Steinberg, Les
Center located around the comer Shelton and his wife Pat Shelton
on Ft. Washington Avenue. "The have been regulars for over
Armory is such a great place twenty years. Apart tram its
because every high school kid convenience and quality of the
gets a chance to participate in a food, Les Shelton attributed
sport in a world class facility," the restaurant's success to
Hunt said. its owners' good business
Over the years the restaurant sense. "I think the real issue is
has become deeply involved they've actually watched the
with the running community neighborhood, looked at the
and the walls of its back change in demographics and
which Is
room are dedicated to runners responded to it in a way that
with a showcase of magazine made each group of people
covers, newspaper articles and come in and feel welcome," he
photographs. "It's good business said. "They've been a positive
to be involved in the community, influence in any way you can
to have your fingers on the pulse think of for a business."
of the community," he said. And Yet Hunt has another reason
this Irish business has blended in why he thinks the business has
beautifully in the predominantly done so well. "Coogan's is as
Hispanic neighborhood. "The successful as it is because its
great thing about aa Irish place is three owners are here," he said.
that ail ethnic groups throughout "Whencustomershaveaproblem,
the world associate the Irish with they come to us. Sometimes we
hospitality so that works very caa solve them, sometimes we
can't and sometimes we have
well," said Hunt, who considers
himself an honorary Dominican. the chance to explain why it has
It can take hard work to run to be the way it is. 1 think that
a successful restaurant, but helps a lot and we try very hard
Hunt also mentioned the job's to make things work."

Hebrew Tabernacle Congregation

>~HIGH HOLIDAY

~~
.~
to 1 p.m. Northern Manhattan
Ewryone
.
"~::.

The course provides

Microsoft Office training
(Word, Excel and
PowerPolnt) and career
Audubon development workshops
Partnership including: resume and
for Economic cover letter writing,
job search techniques,
Development LDC Interviewing skills and
(APED)
job placement assistance.
513 W. 207 SI.
New York, NY 10034
TEL 212.544.2400 Participants must be at
least 18 years old, speak
FAX 212.544.0248
English, have appropriate
www.audubonpartnership. work documentation.
org
be unemployed or
underemployed. and
looking for work? If so, demonstrate basic
visit our office and ask computer skills.
about our employment
program Jobs To Build On To register, contact Mr.
(JTBO),which will provide Fernandez, 212.544.2400
Coalition for
Economic
iswe/come
-
singles,c!l!'P/es
Imdfam"~ofa1l'
.. . \SERVICES
Development
(NMCED)
configurations!
SanctuaryServices
l.eJflyBabbiSco"B. Weiner
.
'"
5'69
600 W. 1851h St., 2nd FI.
CAntari4lI.tent RoUbt SimmolU
New York, NY 10033 n.w;d Shul Organist
TEL: 212-543-0010 doProf<Ul...I cr.w
Fax: 212-543-1308 Rosh Hashanah
nmced@nyc.rr.com Monday. &ptemba 29" Qt 7:00 p.m.
'l1tesday.. SePltmb",3D'" III 9:00 a.m.
Potluck. dairy lunch follows at approximately 1:30 p.m.
NMCED provides FREE TGShUdt: Meet at 181" St. 0- CGbrin; lUwL at 3:00 p.,n.
economic resources to to walk to thl Hudson (bring your-own brtadcrumbs)
Tot-Hashanah at 5:00p.m. (for prt-~adm)
help you succeed. FlU7fily Service at 6:.30 p.m.
Wednesday. OctoMr JII at 9:00 4m.
Social Hall Services
FREEEducation and ]urrior C.nn.(R'gation at IO:.VJa.nt.
lAd by R1IbhiMmpntMoers Wenig
Training: Shabbat Shuvah ...",. MT'"> Can,,,",,, SoIQb'
Family Sen>ice.FridayOctoD" 3m at 6:30 p.m., Dcwld Dudllnn,... PiarroAecompanilt
ESLLevell & II followed by aJterN diftMr (must mnwIpay itt adwntCt do,h. &,h Am lay Choir
Computers Levell & II 518 QduIts;5'lchUdmrun'" 13; under4frn).
&-~ Oclobu 4th at 10:00a.m. Rosh Hashanah
Civic Education
Monday, Seplember 29" at &15 p.m.
General Equivalency Yom IGppur 'lUuday. Septftmber 30* lit 9'..30ILm.
WeJnesd";Y. OdOM 8" Potluck dairy lunch fnl/Dws at approximately ':.W p.m.
Diploma Kol Nidn 7;00 p.m. TlUhlich: Mett at 181" St. cS-Cubri"i Blvd. at 3:00 p.rn.
Academic & Career 7hursdt:ry. Odobu 9"

you with the tools to Counseling MlIrnillg ~'ervke 9'.30 ".m. Yom Kippur
x20. Yizkor beginning al3:OO p.m. Wednesday. Octobu sa
help you find and retain Resume Building Ne'ilaJr beginning at 6:30 p.rn. Kol Nidre 6.-00 p.m.
employment. Chlldcare Provider A joint juice 6- azh breakfast follows 71Iunday. October 9""
cmai1: office@bebn:wtabcrnade.ora MomingSnviu 9:3011."..
Training YDm Kippur .study brginnillg ut 4:00p.m.
Due to popular demand, Customer Service For tickets or more information call Mirtdtd/Yaz1nrIN,/i1ab beRinninx at
APED is offering a day Training approximately 5:00 p,m.
session of Its Back Office Graphic Design (212) 568-8304 Ajaint juice cS-cGte bmik.-fiul follows

Support Program from Internet 101 Child,_ i.s"""'IGbk at m05t daytime senri_ modest additional contribution requested.
Aug. 18 to Sep. 2S on Culinary Arts
Mondays, Tuesdays and Jewelry Making
551 Fort Washington Avenue (corner of 185thStreet)
Thursdays from 10 a.m.
Beth Am Havurah
Au!!ust 28, 2008 Manhattan TlITI6s 9

Secretos de su exito:
Coogan's Adaptflndose a una demografia cambiante
-"" -
''" ""
~ ~. .

~~
.
Por Dorkys Ramos
EIRestaurante Coogan's,
dela Calle169y Broadway,
Washington
situadoenla esquinadeloeste
hasidounelementobilsicoen
Heightspordecadas.Establecldo eneI1985,el
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C!J.F
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\::"dz;~f'~ "';..;'~:--
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il
~'"i.
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I
restaurante,
localizada
cuyonombrerecuerdaCoogan's
enlaAvenidaEdgecombe
Bluff,lacolina
entreel oestedelasCalles
t~ ~...
.

~.litt~L,.
~~..~-
r """'~'
- h~~ . t~
'~ '-.,'" .~
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.!JII"
,,'
155y 160lacualtienevistahaciaellugardedosencamaciones . ~'\t~' ....
delantiguoPoloGroundsdondelosMetropolitanos
Yorky losGiantsde NuevaYorkjugaban.LosMetstambilm
jugaronahiantesdesdee11964cuandoel EstadioSheaestaba
de Nueva
." .. - ..::
~-..~
/ -- ..
siendoconstruido. Cuandoel HospitalNewYorkPresbyterian,
el cualesduenodeledificio,queriaunlugarcereaparacomer
..~ ,.
parasusempleados y visitantes, loscuatroduenosoriginales
deCoogan'sbrincaron a la oportunidad dondeotrospocos
estabandispuestos a tomarseel riesgo.EIactualequipode
DavidHunt,PeterWalshy TessMcDade hanestadojuntos
desdee11990.Cuandosetratademanejarunnegocioexitoso,
losduenosdeCoogan'svenfaimportancia dereunirinformaciOn
tantodeclienlescomodeotrosestablecimienlos. 'EI negocio
dereslauranle yanoesunnegocioquepuedecorrersolo',dijo
Hunt.'SIIedesuidas enestenegocio,seacab6.Tutianesque
moniloreario conslantemente, poniendoaldiay presentando
nuevascasasa laspersonas'.Deahi,Hunly sussociosse
mantienen conasociaciones de restaurantes y leenrevislas
...
..
parasaberqueeslAnhaciendo
mundo.Elloslambilmactualizan
mantener
reslauranles
lascasasfrescas.'Unreslauranle
doscasas',anadi6el. "Tienequeproporeionar
enotraspartesdel
susmenusy especiales
tienequehacer
lasdemandas
para
" l :;
.....

de Recientemente Coogan~ abri6 su caf(JaI airefibre.

losclientesy tambientieneunaobligacl6n deintroducirnuevas
ideasal publico'.Algunasdeestasnuevasideasincluyenuna
granselecci6ndecasassaludables aunqueasegurandose que
aquellosbuscando unahamburguesa decamederesnose
sientandecepcionados.
Perosusmejorasnoterminanenlacocina.Recientemente Harlem YMCA
ellosanadieron dospantallas delelevisorplanasenel areade
la barra(lievando sugrantotala siete)comolambienunnuevo
slslemadecerveza.Y desdeel17 deagoslo,loscllenlespueden
NewAmericansWelcomeCenter
disfrutaresascervezasafueradelrestaurante ensunuevocafe

8 WEEKSESSION
al airelibre,unaideaconlaquehablanestadojugandopor
muchosanos.'Originalmente cuandoWashington Heightsera
pereibido comounvecindario muchomaspeligroso, la genie
pensabaque10buenoacercadeCoogan's eraquepodiasestar

ENGLISHCLASSES
adentro,seguray noleniasquepreocuparte', dijoHunt.'Ahora
el vecindario hacambiadohastael puntoquelaspersonas
quierensentarseafueray servistas',
Aunquelosduenosnosonde sentarseociosamenle y
descansar ensuslaureles.Ellosseaseguran dedevolverie a
la comunidad dijoHunt.Porlospasados10afios,Coogan's ha
lIevadoa cabolacarrera'Salsa,BluesandShamrocks 5K'y
hastaahoraharecaudado cercademediomill6nded61ares
el CentrodePistay CampodelArmorylocalizado
para
en la Calle
Sept. 1 - Oct. 25, 2008
169y FortWashinglon. 'EIArmoryes unlugartanmaravilloso Mon-Thurs:10am -1pm & 6pm. 9pm
porquecadaninodeescuelasuperiortieneunaoportunidad de
participarenundeporteenunacentroatieticodeclasemundial',
Sat: 10am -1pm
dijoHunt.B restaurante hapasadoa estarprofundamente
envueltoconlacomunidad
sefialando
y elcomedor,
cubiertasderevislas,articulosdeperi6dicos
distinlasaclividades
conunavitrinade
comunales,
deesto.'Eslarenvueltoen lacomunidad
y foIografias
ofrecelestimonio
esunbuennegocio',
.......................................... .
dijoel.Yestenegocioiriandesse hamezclado
enel vecindario predominantemenle
preciosamente
hispano.'La buenoacerca
Offering the following classes
deunlugaririandesesquelodos!osgruposetnicosatravesdel
mundoasocianlosiriandeses conhospitalidad aslesqueeso ~Basic Literacy
funcionamuybien',dijoHunt.quienseconsideraa si mismo
comodominicano honorario.
HayqueIrabajarfuerteparamanejarunexilosorestaurante,
~ ESL - Beginner & Intermediate

di.E.\
peroHunttambienmencion61as proyecciones deltrabajo,
'Cadadlaesenteramenle diferenledesdeelcomienzo hastael
finar, dijo el.'Nunca es aburrido,y lu constanlementeconoces : ~::::;::::p
personasnuevas.Todoel mundoquiereseramistoso coneI
dela barra'.Algunasdeestaspersonasincluyencelebridades
talescomoDerekJeter,BillMurray,MillyQuezaday AliciaKeys
~GED
f ~~
'S\e\
~~O~.
y politicostalescomop.jGorey el presidenle
Dominicana LeonelFemandez.
dela Republica

Yclaroesti, hayfielesclientesdeCoogan'squesiguen
viniendoailotrasano.
~ Language Skills
..........................................
?-.e~'\ .:
LosamigosLeeSteinberg, LesSheltony suesposaPal
Sheltonhansideclienlespormasdeveinleanos.Apartedesu '9ung photo 10
conveniencia y calidaddelacomunidad, LesSheltonatribuyeel 'Imm.grahon support available by appointment
exilodelrestauranle al buensenlidodenegociodesusduenos.
'Yopiensoqueel asuntorealesqueellosverdaderamenle
miranel vecindario, miranelcambioenla demografia y
responden a elde unamaneraquehacea cadagrupode
personasveniry sentirsebienvenido', dijoel.'Elloshansidouna For informationcall: 212..690.4024
influenciapositivaencualquiermodoqueusledpuedapensar
paraunnegocio'.
AunqueHunlofreceolraraWnparaexplicarporqueel

1 Harlem YMCA I Outreach Center

negociohaidotanbien.'Coogan'ses tanexilosocomoes ~ YHCA
porquesusIresduenoseslAnaqui',dijoe1.'Cuandolosclientes OI'e"A1'I.~~ 2627 Atlnm CI..ylan Pow'" J.. Blvd {7th Avo,",,,..) @ '51~! SIJ~..t
lianenunproblema, ellosvienendondenosotros. Algunasveces M'~ New York NY 10039
podemosresolverios, algunasvecesnoy algunasveceseso
ayudamuchoy nosotrostratamosbienduroparahacerquelas
cosasfuncionen'.