Navigating New York with Pete O'Connell

On this weeks Episode I speak to a County Meath Man who has been living and working in New York for over 40 years.  Pete O’Connell owns and runs numerous successful bars and restaurants in  Manhattan and having moved here in 1977, has many years of experience navigating the New York City Hospitality industry.

I feel it's so important to listen and learn from people like Pete because he has been  Navigating New York for decades and has a very interesting and broad perspective on life here. Pete has not only survived for 40 years in New York but has thrived and learned and reinvented himself many times to keep his businesses relevant and successful.

Of course, what we can also learn from Pete is the resilience it takes to make it here. Pete speaks really openly in our conversations about how the stumbling blocks become the stepping stones to achieving our goals in life.  We have a candid conversation about the challenges of being a young immigrant working in the hospitality industry and how Pete himself got lost for a time on his journey  due to alcohol. 

Pete is so honest and open about the challenges he faced with the lifestyle he lead in New York for many years, how he spent a bit of time in prison and how he ended up going home to Ireland to eventually sober up and has now not had a drink in 23 years.

What I find particularly special about Pete is his willingness to help other people struggling, his gift is that through his own experience he can help others not feel so alone or ashamed of whatever it might be that they are struggling with. He has a wonderful way with words and a powerful message.

 We recorded in one of his establishments, the BlueBell Café on 22nd and 3rd Avenue and it was my first in-person podcast! However I think my microphone was off and there was a little too much background noise but I did my best with the edit and as Pete says, "we live and we learn"...

Next door to the BlueBell is Molly's Shebeen which is a beautiful old style Irish Pub and Restaurant with delicious food. Pete, at the young age of 73 is always trying new things and has now starting a new Vegan venture with a business partner Michelle Morgan;  Tiger Lilly  - available for pick up and delivery  atThetigerlillyktchen.com

 It was a real privilege to have Pete on the Podcast - I hope you enjoy!