Two Limerick, Ireland natives have big plans for the city this fall.
Gillian and Eammon Nestor are working hard to debut their new restaurant called Emerald Oak Irish Pub at 3003 Oakland Drive in Kalamazoo. This is the first concept from their hospitality company Auld Neds Hospitality. Eammon told What Now Detroit demolition has just occurred, and it will be a three-month building process.
Eammon moved his family to Michigan from Ireland in 2017 for an assignment through his company Stryker, per an article from MLive. He and Gillian wanted to find a way to bring a traditional Irish pub to the Kalamazoo area. They then found the former Oakwood Bistro space that closed in early 2024.
“In Ireland, the pub is far more than somewhere to have a drink. It is the anchor of the community—a place where neighbors gather, matches are watched, and stories are told and retold. Created by Eamonn and Gill Nestor, The Emerald Oak was built to bring that exact spirit to our new home in Kalamazoo,” says the description on their website.
A menu has not been released, but those stopping by can expect beers on tap, whiskeys poured out and prepared cocktails. Specific food items are still being kept under wraps, but Eammon said dishes like fish and chips and a traditional Irish breakfast are to be expected. From conceptual pictures, the inside will have a full bar along with candlelit tables and multiple lounge sofas.
The Irish pub will be on the east side of Oakland Drive, sharing the building with Factory Coffee – Bookstore Cafe. A Subway is also attached to the building, as well as Sawall Health Foods. This is near the Parkview Avenue intersection.
More updates on the pub and the opening date can be found on their Facebook page.
