Shawn O’Donnell’s American Grill and Irish Pub plans to open its seventh restaurant in spring 2027 at 5645 Guide Meridian Road in Bellingham. The restaurant will occupy the former Hilltop Restaurant.
In an October 5 Facebook post, the company said it had received the keys and was beginning renovations. An exact opening date has not yet been announced.
Founder Shawn O’Donnell Sr., the grandson of Irish immigrants, started his restaurant career with The Lunch Box, a 48-seat sandwich shop he opened in Mountlake Terrace in 1982. He later bought an Everett restaurant and renamed it Shawn O’Donnell’s in 1996.
“Just 22 years old with not much money, I wasn’t sure how we did it, but with help from family and friends, we somehow made it work,” the owner recalls in the history published on the company’s website.
His children, Shawn Jr. and Sophie Taylor, grew up bussing tables and later joined the family business. The group remains family-owned and operated.
Shawn O’Donnell’s serves breakfast, Irish dishes, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, and salads. The bar offers Irish beer and whiskey. Its six existing restaurants are in Everett, Spokane, the Skagit Valley, and Butte, Montana, with two Seattle locations in Pioneer Square and Fremont.
“The journey continues, and with each new location, we carry forward the same spirit we started with: family, community, and a love for sharing a meal together,” their website reads.
Follow Shawn O’Donnell’s on Instagram for construction and opening updates.
