Village officials, longtime customers, family and friends gathered at Connolly Station on July 23 to celebrate the pub’s 30th anniversary, recognizing a business that has become one of Malverne’s best-known gathering places.
For three decades, Connolly Station has been more than an Irish restaurant in the heart of the village. Since opening in 1995, it has become a place where neighbors celebrate milestones, friendships are formed and nurtured and generations of patrons continue to return.
Owner Gerry Hughes emigrated from Dublin to the United States in 1969 with little experience in the bar business beyond working as a lounge boy, delivering drinks to customers at a local pub. After arriving, he worked at Gallagher’s, in Rockaway Beach, before eventually becoming a partner in the Rockaway Beach Inn, which he owned for decades.
Hughes came to Malverne after his friend Jimmy Reilly introduced him to the opportunity to operate a pub in the village. The two opened Connolly Station together before Hughes became the sole owner around 1997.
“It’s such a great village,” Hughes said. “The people have been so supportive through the years, and there’s not too many bar/restaurants that stay in business for 30 years.”
The pub takes its name from Dublin’s historic Connolly Station, itself named for Irish revolutionary and labor leader James Connolly. The name also carries personal significance, because Connolly was Hughes’s mother’s maiden name.
Over the years, Connolly Station has built a reputation extending beyond Malverne while maintaining its identity as a village gathering place. Much of that appeal comes from its authentic Irish atmosphere. Low ceilings, wooden booths and traditional décor create the feeling of stepping into a neighborhood pub in Ireland.
Hughes credits its longevity to its employees and the support of the community. Beyond operating the business, he has remained active in the Irish music scene as a member of the Gerry Hughes Band, playing traditional Irish music at pubs alongside family. Live Irish music has long been part of the Connolly Station experience.
“Gerry Hughes and his family have created a legendary landmark in our village,” Mayor Timothy Sullivan said. “Oftentimes I speak with people who have never heard of Malverne, yet they know all about Connolly Station.”
Sullivan added, “The wonderful food, warm charm and often celebratory environment have been a constant fixture in our community due to Gerry’s commitment, personalized service and generosity shown to so many.”
The pub’s 30th anniversary marks a significant milestone in an industry in which many restaurants change ownership or close. Hughes credited the village and its residents with supporting the business over the past three decades, making it possible for the same family to operate it continuously since 1995.
When Connolly Station opened, the building had been vacant for about six months. Business started slowly, Hughes recounted, after it was renovated, before steadily building a loyal customer base. He also recalled that Connolly Station helped attract customers in the pub’s early years, and said that its planned reopening could provide another boost to local businesses.
One of Hughes’ greatest sources of pride has been watching generations of families return to the pub. Many customers who first visited as children now come in with their own families, creating a tradition that has been passed down over the years. Those repeat customers, he said, have been the foundation of the pub’s success.
Although Hughes did not originally choose Malverne himself, he has remained in the village since becoming the pub’s sole owner. Looking ahead, he hopes Connolly Station will remain a family business. His son, Brian, who lives in Malverne, has shown an interest in taking over the operation in the next few years. Gerry said that Brian enjoys interacting with people, and he believes he would build on the welcoming atmosphere that has become Connolly Station’s hallmark.
Hughes said he is most grateful to the customers who have supported the business since its earliest days, and hopes the pub will remain part of the community for years to come. “Thank you to all my customers for 30 years of business here in Malverne,” he said, “and we hope we keep it going for 30 more.”
